Jb. Whitlock et al., INVESTIGATIONS OF MATERIALS AND DEVICE STRUCTURES FOR ORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLAR-CELLS, Optical engineering, 32(8), 1993, pp. 1921-1934
In our work with the phthalocyanines and perylenes, we have formulated
a hierarchy of placement of dyes in p-n heterojunction devices to opt
imize the short-circuit current density. Computer modeling of Schottky
barrier cells, with parameters fit to experimental results and incorp
orating field-dependent carrier generation, were used to optimize the
power efficiency. The model predicts an optimum carrier concentration
density and suggests different hierarchies for utilization of Forster
radiationless energy transfer. Synthesis and purification of materials
is also discussed. In terms of purity, most materials used in the lit
erature are shown to have been quite below solar grade. A newly devise
d purification technique is introduced. A hydration mechanism is shown
to exist for chloroaluminum phthalocyanine, previously thought immune
to hydration. The latter mechanism had been mistaken before for a sim
ple phase transformation and can be induced by various different treat
ments with organic nonsolvents for chloroaluminum phthalocyanine. Test
ing of p-n and Schottky barrier cells is also discussed. The different
capacitance versus voltage (C-V) spectroscopies are compared, and the
case for the small-signal method is argued over the triangular voltag
e sweep. Several cautions on the interpretation of the C- V curves are
noted.