Date of Award

Spring 5-2013

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

First Advisor

Sarah E. Morgan

Advisor Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

A systematic study of the effects of alteration of processing parameters in combination with incorporation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules on the properties and structure of bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells made from P3HT:PCBM blends was undertaken. On implementing the correct processing protocol, incorporation of POSS molecules with specific structures resulted in considerable enhancement in cell efficiencies. Octaaminophenyl POSS incorporation resulted in a 20% increase in cell efficiency over the control and caused the formation of crystalline, fiber-like structures in the active layer of the photovoltaic cell.

Included in

Engineering Commons

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