9-13 July 2012
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
<a href="http://events.saip.org.za/internalPage.py?pageId=11&confId=14"><font color=#ff0000>SAIP2012 PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE</font></a>

Charge injection at metal–polymer interfaces

12 Jul 2012, 08:00
20m
Oral Presentation Track A - Division for Condensed Matter Physics and Materials DCMPM2

Speaker

Mr Lordwell Jhamba (University of the Witwatersrand)

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)

Interfacial phenomena across metal-polymer systems and are not yet well understood. The comprehension of the fundamental physics underlying opto-electronic and thermal excitations at metal-polymer interfaces is essential for the improvement of the conversion efficiency of a photovoltaic device, in particular, the organic solar cell. In this paper, the current limiting mechanisms around the metal/polymer interfaces, ITO/PEDOT:PSS-P3HT and Al-PCBM, are investigated and discussed. Experimental results for various voltage regimes are analysed and interpreted to gain insight into the elementary response to energy barrier (for example, the Schottky barrier height) fluctuations at the metal/polymer interfaces under external biasing in the dark. It is deduced that carrier injection and space charge formation are strongly affected by the metal-polymer interfaces in that, for small interface barrier height, <0.5 eV, current is space charge limited and for large barriers, current becomes injection constrained. Differing injection mechanisms are suggested. Wherein the Richardson-Schottky thermionic emission mechanism is found to dominate low voltage regime for hole injection at the ITO/PEDOT:PSS-P3HT interface into HOMO of P3HT through ITO/PEDOT:PSS, the Fowler – Nordheim quantum mechanical tunneling takes centre stage at higher voltages under reverse bias for hole injection at the Al-PCBM interface into HOMO of PCBM through Al.

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD)?

PhD

Apply to be<br> consider for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

Yes

Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution

Zivayi Chiguvare,
Zivayi.Chiguvare@wits.ac.za
School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

Yes

Primary author

Mr Lordwell Jhamba (University of the Witwatersrand)

Co-authors

Dr Daniel Wamwangi (University of the Witwatersrand) Dr Zivayi Chiguvare (University of the Witwatersrand)

Presentation Materials

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