Optimizing Spin-Coat Speed for Fabrication of P3HT: PCBM Solar Cells

The effect of spin speed on the orientation of the conjugated polymer chains becomes a matter of concern while fabricating bulk heterojunction devices such as solar cells. The stability and performance strongly depend on the intertwining of the two molecules that form the bulk heterojunctions. In the case of P3HT: PCBM, it is the long chains of P3HT that encompasses the PCBM molecules. This work investigates the fabricating conditions of Poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) on the glass substrates in terms of spin coating speeds to obtain favourable geometry of P3HT. For this purpose, three different samples were prepared, keeping spin rate as 6850, 8150 and 9700 rpm, respectively. It was observed that at high spin rates, a large centrifugal force acts upon polymer chains, unfolding them into highly oriented structures. These P3HT chains are free from twists, kinks and are not intermingled. The results of the present work advocate fabricating P3HT: PCBM films at spin speeds less than 6850 rpm.