As aplicações dos dispositivos conversores de energia luminosa, principalmente da luz solar, em energia elétrica são muito variadas e com freqüência surge a possibilidade de uma nova aplicação. Muito tem sido discutido sobre aplicações de células solares em vestimentas, mochilas, tetos de estacionamentos e em embalagens eletrônicas. Esses tipos de aplicações não exigem dispositivos de alto desempenho, porém exigem que seja de baixo custo de processamento e, principalmente, que sejam flexíveis. Dispositivos fotovoltaicos flexíveis devem então ser fabricados por técnicas simples de processamento para permitir sua eventual produção em massa. Esse trabalho pretende dar uma contribuição na escolha dos materiais a serem usados em dispositivos fotovoltaicos flexíveis, focando seu desenvolvimento em células solares orgânicas de heterojunção de volume (BHJ), que são comumente processadas por solução. A estrutura escolhida foi a convencional de multicamadas onde o anodo transparente é o ITO (óxido de índio-estanho), seguida de uma camada transportadora de buracos (PEDOT:PSS), da camada ativa, e do cátodo, que em nosso caso foi formado por cálcio e alumínio, ambos depositados a vácuo. Como camada ativa, principal elemento de estudo nesse trabalho, foram estudados o P3HT:PC61BM, e o PTB7-Th:PC71BM, como elementos doador de elétrons (polímero) e aceitador de elétrons (derivado de fulereno). Em especial com o dispositivo fabricado com o PTB7-Th:PC71BM foi possível elaborar mudanças de processamento e assim melhorar consideravelmente a sua eficiência de conversão de potência. Em seguida, através de medidas de corrente-tensão (J-V) no escuro e sob iluminação, pudemos analisar a evolução dos parâmetros das células, como as resistências série (Rs) e paralelo (Rp), e também aqueles que definem a qualidade da célula solar: a corrente de curto-circuito (Jsc), a tensão de circuito aberto (Voc), o fator de preenchimento (FF), e a eficiência (η). Através dos ajustes das curvas J-V, no escuro e sob iluminação, usando expressões de J(V) extraídas de circuitos equivalentes, respectivamente, dos diodos e das células solares, pudemos realizar uma análise mais efetiva de como as resistências série e paralelo mudam com os elementos da camada ativa e também com diferentes processamentos. O fator de preenchimento (FF) é outro parâmetro importante que determina a eficiência de conversão de energia de uma célula solar orgânica, e existem vários fatores que podem influenciar significativamente o seu valor. Essa é uma das razões do porquê é difícil identificar a real origem desse parâmetro. Essa tese também deu elementos que correlacionam a estrutura química e morfológica da camada ativa com o fator de preenchimento. / The applications of light energy converters, especially the sunlight, in electrical energy are very varied and there is often the possibility of the appearance of new applications. Much has been discussed about solar cell applications in clothing, backpacks, parking ceilings and in electronic packaging. These types of applications do not require high-performance devices, but they do require low-cost processing and, above all, that they are flexible. Flexible photovoltaic devices must then be manufactured by simple processing techniques to allow their eventual mass production. This work intends to contribute to the choice of materials to be used in flexible photovoltaic devices, focusing their development on organic bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJ), which are commonly processed via solution. The structure chosen for the device was the multilayer one, where the transparent anode is the ITO (indium- tin oxide), followed by a hole transport layer (PEDOT:PSS), the active layer, and the cathode, which in our case was formed by calcium and aluminum, both deposited under vacuum. As active layer, the main element of study in this work, we studied the P3HT: PC61BM and the PTB7-Th: PC71BM, as electron donor (polymer) and electron acceptor elements (derived from fullerene). In particular with the device made with the PTB7-Th:PC71BM it was possible to changes processing parameters and thus enhancing its power conversion efficiency. Then, through current-voltage measurements (J-V), in the dark and under illumination, we were able to analyze the evolution of the cell parameters, such as the series (Rs) and shunt (Rp) resistances, as well as those that define the solar cell quality: short-circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and efficiency (η). Through the adjustments of the J-V curves, in the dark and under illumination, using J(V) expressions, for equivalent circuits of the diodes and solar cells respectively, we were able to perform a more effective analysis of how the series and shunt resistances change with the elements of the active layer and also with its processing. Fill factor (FF) is another important parameter that determines the energy conversion efficiency of an organic solar cell, and there are several factors that can significantly influence its value. This is one of the reasons why it is difficult to identify the true source of this parameter. This thesis also gave elements that correlate the chemical and morphological structure of the active layer with the fill factor.

abstract: The inexorable upsurge in world’s energy demand has steered the search for newer renewable energy sources and photovoltaics seemed to be one of the best alternatives for energy production. Among the various photovoltaic technologies that emerged, organic/polymer photovoltaics based on solution processed bulk-heterojunctions (BHJ) of semiconducting polymers has gained serious attention owing to the use of inexpensive light-weight materials, exhibiting high mechanical flexibility and compatibility with low temperature roll-to-roll manufacturing techniques on flexible substrates. The most widely studied material to date is the blend of regioregular P3HT and PC61BM used as donor and acceptor materials. The object of this study was to investigate and improve the performance/stability of the organic solar cells by use of inexpensive materials. In an attempt to enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells, we have demonstrated the use of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode in bulk heterojunction solar cell structure The device studies showed a significant enhancement in the short-circuit current as well as in the shunt resistance on use of the hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) layer. In another approach a p-type CuI hole-transport layer was utilized that could possibly replace the acidic PEDOT:PSS layer in the fabrication of high-efficiency solar cells. The device optimization was done by varying the concentration of CuI in the precursor solution which played an important role in the efficiency of the solar cell devices. Recently a substantial amount of research has been focused on identifying suitable interfacial layers in organic solar cells which has efficient charge transport properties. It was illustrated that a thin layer of silver oxide interfacial layer showed a 28% increase in power conversion efficiency in comparison to that of the control cell. The optoelectronic properties and morphological features of indium-free ZnO/Ag/MoOx electrodes was also studied. Organic solar cells on these composite electrodes revealed good optical and electrical properties, making them a promising alternative indium free and PEDOT:PSS-free organic solar cells. Lastly, inverted solar cells utilizing zinc oxide and yttrium doped zinc oxide electron transport was also created and their device properties revealed that optimum annealing conditions and yttrium doping was essential to obtain high efficiency solar cells. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2015