TY - JOUR
T1 - Accurate determination of the index of refraction of polymer blend films by spectroscopic ellipsometry
AU - Ng, Annie
AU - Li, Chi Ho
AU - Fung, Man Kin
AU - Djuriŝić, Aleksandra B.
AU - Zapien, J. A.
AU - Chan, Wai Kin
AU - Cheung, Kai Yin
AU - Wong, Wai Yeung
PY - 2010/9/9
Y1 - 2010/9/9
N2 - To model the performance of a bulk-heterojunction solar cell, it is necessary to obtain information about the index of refraction of the blend layer, which is typically determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. The optical functions of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-[6,6]-phenyl C 61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT-PCBM) blend films have been extensively studied. However, there is a large variation of the reported optical functions in the literature. Because of this fact, as well as the widespread use of P3HT-PCBM films in organic photovoltaics, we have selected this material system as an example and performed a detailed analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry data. We illustrate the occurrence of multiple solutions and the importance of a dedicated methodology to reach a satisfactory unique solution. The proposed methodology involves the following steps: (1) multisample analysis; (2) independent thickness and surface characterization; (3) use of the adequate optical description of substrate; (4) thickness estimation from transparent range using Cauchy model; (5) fitting n and k in the entire range with fixed thickness; verify result is physically meaningful; (6) optimization of the parameters to be fitted; (7) repeating steps 5 and 6 with and without EMA layer to account for the surface roughness; (8) finally, and only if no satisfactory fit could be obtained from previous steps, attempts to introduce anisotropy, graded layers, or other nonideal models should follow.
AB - To model the performance of a bulk-heterojunction solar cell, it is necessary to obtain information about the index of refraction of the blend layer, which is typically determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. The optical functions of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-[6,6]-phenyl C 61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT-PCBM) blend films have been extensively studied. However, there is a large variation of the reported optical functions in the literature. Because of this fact, as well as the widespread use of P3HT-PCBM films in organic photovoltaics, we have selected this material system as an example and performed a detailed analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry data. We illustrate the occurrence of multiple solutions and the importance of a dedicated methodology to reach a satisfactory unique solution. The proposed methodology involves the following steps: (1) multisample analysis; (2) independent thickness and surface characterization; (3) use of the adequate optical description of substrate; (4) thickness estimation from transparent range using Cauchy model; (5) fitting n and k in the entire range with fixed thickness; verify result is physically meaningful; (6) optimization of the parameters to be fitted; (7) repeating steps 5 and 6 with and without EMA layer to account for the surface roughness; (8) finally, and only if no satisfactory fit could be obtained from previous steps, attempts to introduce anisotropy, graded layers, or other nonideal models should follow.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951608073&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/jp104398f
DO - 10.1021/jp104398f
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79951608073
SN - 1932-7447
VL - 114
SP - 15094
EP - 15101
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
IS - 35
ER -