Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells

In this study, we detailed the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic structures based on PTB7:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) bulk-heterojunction on optical glass substrates by spin-coating. Some samples were deposited on a flat substrate, and others were placed on a patterned substrate obtained by nano...

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Main Authors: Tudor Suteu, Vlad-Andrei Antohe, Stefan Antohe, Ionel Stavarache, Maria Cristina Balasin, Gabriel Socol, Marcela Socol, Oana Rasoga, Sorina Iftimie
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Surfaces
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9637/8/2/30
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author Tudor Suteu
Vlad-Andrei Antohe
Stefan Antohe
Ionel Stavarache
Maria Cristina Balasin
Gabriel Socol
Marcela Socol
Oana Rasoga
Sorina Iftimie
author_facet Tudor Suteu
Vlad-Andrei Antohe
Stefan Antohe
Ionel Stavarache
Maria Cristina Balasin
Gabriel Socol
Marcela Socol
Oana Rasoga
Sorina Iftimie
author_sort Tudor Suteu
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we detailed the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic structures based on PTB7:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) bulk-heterojunction on optical glass substrates by spin-coating. Some samples were deposited on a flat substrate, and others were placed on a patterned substrate obtained by nano-imprinting lithography; the induced effects were analyzed. We demonstrated that using a patterned substrate enhanced the maximum output power, primarily because the short-circuit current density increased. This can be considered a direct consequence of reduced optical reflection and improved optical absorption. The topological parameters evaluated by atomic force microscopy, namely, the root mean square, Skewness, and Kurtosis, had small values of around 2 nm and 1 nm, respectively. This proves that the mixture of a conductive polymer and a fullerene derivative creates a thin film network with a high flatness degree. The samples discussed in this paper were fabricated and characterized in air; we can admit that the results are encouraging, but further optimization is needed.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2571-9637
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series Surfaces
spelling doaj-art-594f048f48a14bcb8a5475738dae59ee2025-08-20T03:29:39ZengMDPI AGSurfaces2571-96372025-05-01823010.3390/surfaces8020030Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar CellsTudor Suteu0Vlad-Andrei Antohe1Stefan Antohe2Ionel Stavarache3Maria Cristina Balasin4Gabriel Socol5Marcela Socol6Oana Rasoga7Sorina Iftimie8Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405 Atomistilor Street, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, RomaniaFaculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405 Atomistilor Street, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, RomaniaFaculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405 Atomistilor Street, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute of Material Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaFaculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405 Atomistilor Street, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute of Material Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute of Material Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaFaculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405 Atomistilor Street, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, RomaniaIn this study, we detailed the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic structures based on PTB7:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) bulk-heterojunction on optical glass substrates by spin-coating. Some samples were deposited on a flat substrate, and others were placed on a patterned substrate obtained by nano-imprinting lithography; the induced effects were analyzed. We demonstrated that using a patterned substrate enhanced the maximum output power, primarily because the short-circuit current density increased. This can be considered a direct consequence of reduced optical reflection and improved optical absorption. The topological parameters evaluated by atomic force microscopy, namely, the root mean square, Skewness, and Kurtosis, had small values of around 2 nm and 1 nm, respectively. This proves that the mixture of a conductive polymer and a fullerene derivative creates a thin film network with a high flatness degree. The samples discussed in this paper were fabricated and characterized in air; we can admit that the results are encouraging, but further optimization is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9637/8/2/30photovoltaic structuresnano-imprinting lithographyphoto-generated currentoutput power
spellingShingle Tudor Suteu
Vlad-Andrei Antohe
Stefan Antohe
Ionel Stavarache
Maria Cristina Balasin
Gabriel Socol
Marcela Socol
Oana Rasoga
Sorina Iftimie
Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells
Surfaces
photovoltaic structures
nano-imprinting lithography
photo-generated current
output power
title Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells
title_full Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells
title_fullStr Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells
title_short Induced Effects of Nano-Patterned Substrates on the Electrical and Photo-Electrical Properties of PTB7-Th:ICBA (1:1, wt.%) Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells
title_sort induced effects of nano patterned substrates on the electrical and photo electrical properties of ptb7 th icba 1 1 wt bulk heterojunction solar cells
topic photovoltaic structures
nano-imprinting lithography
photo-generated current
output power
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9637/8/2/30
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