Effects of Ionizing Radiation Exposure in Organic Solar Cells: Insights from Frequency Domain Vibrational and Electrical Spectroscopies and Imaging
Abstract
Withstanding repeated exposures to high energy ionizing radiation is essential for solar cells intended for space power sources. Unlike conventional inorganic based solar cells, the basic understanding of how organic semiconductors in device environments respond to ionizing radiation lags considerably behind that of performance limiting factors encountered in terrestrial applications. The principal scientific goal of this research is to bridge the gap in understanding between molecular to materials levels for performance and functionality alterations experienced in conjugated organic semiconductors in solar cell devices exposed to ionizing radiation. The proposed research uses new frequency domain probes – with characteristic signatures entirely unique to organic materials – to resolve molecular and materials level perspectives of radiation induced changes of organic solar cell performance metrics. Two principal thrusts are targeted that take new directions to uncover the susceptibility of key photovoltaic processes to ionizing radiation exposure over a broad range of time and length scales. Thrust I investigates the effect of radiation exposure on early (Franck Condon) vibrational reorganization processes accompanying and sometimes preceding generation of free carriers. It is proposed that radiation induced alterations in molecular structure manifest as reductions of open circuit voltages which are determined largely by the dissipation of excitation energy over certain vibrational degrees of freedom that vary depending on the specific structural form of the polymer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910163
Entities
People
- John K Grey
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of New Mexico