Photostability of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene thin films for encapsulation of OPV

Kateryna Bazaka; Jakaria Ahmad; Michael Oelgemöller; Ashraf Uddin; Mohan V. Jacob

doi:10.1038/srep45599

Photostability of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene thin films for encapsulation of OPV

Kateryna Bazaka^*, Jakaria Ahmad, Michael Oelgemöller, Ashraf Uddin, Mohan V. Jacob

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Optically transparent, smooth, defect-free, chemically inert and with good adhesion to a variety of substrates, plasma polymers from plant-derived secondary metabolites have been identified as promising encapsulating materials for organic electronics and photovoltaics. Here, we demonstrate that an encapsulating layer of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene reduces degradation-related loss in conversion efficiency in PCPDTBT:PC 70 BM solar cells under ambient operating conditions. The stability of γ-terpinene films was then investigated under extreme UV irradiation conditions as a function of deposition power. When exposed to ambient air, prolonged exposure to UV-A and UV-B light led to notable ageing of the polymer. Photooxidation was identified as the main mechanism of degradation, confirmed by significantly slower ageing when oxygen was restricted through the use of a quartz cover. Under unnatural high-energy UV-C irradiation, significant photochemical degradation and oxidation occurred even in an oxygen-poor environment.

Original language	English
Article number	45599
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45599
Publication status	Published - 30 Mar 2017
Externally published	Yes

Access to Document

10.1038/srep45599

Cite this

@article{faa38752d64a4b3a8d2bc599070fe7c4,

title = "Photostability of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene thin films for encapsulation of OPV",

abstract = "Optically transparent, smooth, defect-free, chemically inert and with good adhesion to a variety of substrates, plasma polymers from plant-derived secondary metabolites have been identified as promising encapsulating materials for organic electronics and photovoltaics. Here, we demonstrate that an encapsulating layer of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene reduces degradation-related loss in conversion efficiency in PCPDTBT:PC 70 BM solar cells under ambient operating conditions. The stability of γ-terpinene films was then investigated under extreme UV irradiation conditions as a function of deposition power. When exposed to ambient air, prolonged exposure to UV-A and UV-B light led to notable ageing of the polymer. Photooxidation was identified as the main mechanism of degradation, confirmed by significantly slower ageing when oxygen was restricted through the use of a quartz cover. Under unnatural high-energy UV-C irradiation, significant photochemical degradation and oxidation occurred even in an oxygen-poor environment.",

author = "Kateryna Bazaka and Jakaria Ahmad and Michael Oelgem{\"o}ller and Ashraf Uddin and Jacob, {Mohan V.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2017.",

year = "2017",

month = mar,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1038/srep45599",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Photostability of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene thin films for encapsulation of OPV

AU - Bazaka, Kateryna

AU - Ahmad, Jakaria

AU - Oelgemöller, Michael

AU - Uddin, Ashraf

AU - Jacob, Mohan V.

PY - 2017/3/30

Y1 - 2017/3/30

N2 - Optically transparent, smooth, defect-free, chemically inert and with good adhesion to a variety of substrates, plasma polymers from plant-derived secondary metabolites have been identified as promising encapsulating materials for organic electronics and photovoltaics. Here, we demonstrate that an encapsulating layer of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene reduces degradation-related loss in conversion efficiency in PCPDTBT:PC 70 BM solar cells under ambient operating conditions. The stability of γ-terpinene films was then investigated under extreme UV irradiation conditions as a function of deposition power. When exposed to ambient air, prolonged exposure to UV-A and UV-B light led to notable ageing of the polymer. Photooxidation was identified as the main mechanism of degradation, confirmed by significantly slower ageing when oxygen was restricted through the use of a quartz cover. Under unnatural high-energy UV-C irradiation, significant photochemical degradation and oxidation occurred even in an oxygen-poor environment.

AB - Optically transparent, smooth, defect-free, chemically inert and with good adhesion to a variety of substrates, plasma polymers from plant-derived secondary metabolites have been identified as promising encapsulating materials for organic electronics and photovoltaics. Here, we demonstrate that an encapsulating layer of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene reduces degradation-related loss in conversion efficiency in PCPDTBT:PC 70 BM solar cells under ambient operating conditions. The stability of γ-terpinene films was then investigated under extreme UV irradiation conditions as a function of deposition power. When exposed to ambient air, prolonged exposure to UV-A and UV-B light led to notable ageing of the polymer. Photooxidation was identified as the main mechanism of degradation, confirmed by significantly slower ageing when oxygen was restricted through the use of a quartz cover. Under unnatural high-energy UV-C irradiation, significant photochemical degradation and oxidation occurred even in an oxygen-poor environment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016589439&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/srep45599

DO - 10.1038/srep45599

M3 - Article

C2 - 28358138

AN - SCOPUS:85016589439

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 7

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

M1 - 45599

ER -

Photostability of plasma polymerized γ-terpinene thin films for encapsulation of OPV

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this