AbstractsPhysics

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) The main focus of this thesis has been to develop techniques for probing the active layer morphology of organic photovoltaic devices, as well as to develop a model to explain the phase separation observed in blended film devices containing PCBM. The first chapter describes the use of a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) to generate and map local photocurrents in phase segregated P3HT:PCBM organic photovoltaic devices. Photocurrents are generated at three wavelengths, which are then used to determine the composition of the film based on the absorption coefficient for each wavelength in the pure materials. Then, based on the composition profile (which is corroborated with the use of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM)), it is shown that the absorption coefficients for the pure materials are insufficient to explain the photocurrent generated by 633 nm light. The difference is attributed to the creation of interface states upon blending of the P3HT and PCBM. The second experimental chapter describes the development of a new characterisation technique based on the near-field scanning photocurrent mapping used in the first chapter. The goal was to develop a technique capable of generating photocurrent maps at multiple wavelengths simultaneously, rather than sequentially. By simultaneously measuring the photocurrent generated by each wavelength, the technique is able to overcome several shortcomings associated with sequentially scanning the device. Two approaches are trialled, the first being a method which involves sequentially exposing the device to each wavelength before moving the probe to the next point in the scan. An electronic shutter system is used to control which wavelength is transmitted through the tip. This simultaneous-sequential multi-wavelength NSPM technique suffered from several technical flaws which prevented routine use of the instrument. The second approach taken to achieve simultaneous photocurrent maps at multiple wavelengths is to use a frequency division multiplexing technique. Each wavelength is modulated, using an optical beam chopper, at a unique frequency which in turn modulates the photocurrent at the optical modulation frequency. The current generated by each wavelength is then obtained by demodulating the photocurrent signal based on the modulation frequencies. The third experimental chapter describes the development of a technique capable of generating composition and thickness maps of thin organic films. The technique works by focussing several wavelengths of light onto a film and measuring the intensity of the transmitted light at each wavelength. The intensity of the transmitted light is used to determine the optical absorption of each wavelength. Each wavelength is modulated at its own unique frequency, allowing the intensity of each wavelength to be recovered using the Welch technique for estimating the periodogram. This frequency division multiplexing technique allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiple…