Research > Project 2
Paper Thin Photovoltaics:
polymer-inorganic hybrid devices by chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
Karen Gleason*, Chemical Engineering
Vladimir Bulovic, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Tonio Buonasissi, Mechanical Engineering
Jing Kong, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Michael Strano, Chemical Engineering
Polymers provide extraordinary opportunities for creating conducting and semi-conducting thin films that can be integrated into flexible, paper-thin devices. This work uses new, scalable chemical vapor deposition techniques developed at MIT to fabricate solvent-free polymer thin films and use them in combination with inorganic materials to create prototypes of efficient and environmentally stable PVs. Using these novel deposition methods, the research team will systematically tune properties of the deposited thin films; create coatings of uniform thickness over large areas, including the irregular surfaces of flexible substrates; and achieve high purity of materials and precise interface definition. This low-cost, low-temperature, low-energy-consumption technique can also be used to deposit films that are integrated into devices in which layers of nanomaterials combine to boost efficiency.
An organic photovoltaic device deposited on printer paper (~120 µm thick)
that was pre-coated with 100 nm thick oCVD PEDOT electrodes. After
multiple foldings the device maintains its initial performance.
* Project Leader
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