Multilayer photovoltaic or photoconductive devices
First Claim
1. A method of forming a photovoltaic or photoconducting device comprising the laminating together of a first component having a first electrode and a first semiconductive layer predominantly comprising a first semiconductive material, and a second component having a second electrode and a second semiconductive layer predominantly comprising a second semiconductive material, wherein the laminating step involves the controlled joining of said first semiconductive layer and said second semiconductive layer to form a mixed layer comprising proportionally less of said first semiconductive material than said first semiconductive layer and proportionally less of said second semiconductive material than said second semiconductive layer while retaining said first and second semiconductive layers with a reduced thickness.
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Abstract
The invention concerns optically absorptive photonic devices and in particular photovoltaic and photoconductive devices. It is particularly concerned with devices formed from multiple semiconducting layers, e.g., organic semiconducting polymers. Such a device has two central semiconductive layers which have been laminated together so as to form a mixed layer between the first and second semiconductive layers, while retaining at least some of the first and second semiconductive layers on either side of the mixed layer.
225 Citations
47 Claims
- 1. A method of forming a photovoltaic or photoconducting device comprising the laminating together of a first component having a first electrode and a first semiconductive layer predominantly comprising a first semiconductive material, and a second component having a second electrode and a second semiconductive layer predominantly comprising a second semiconductive material, wherein the laminating step involves the controlled joining of said first semiconductive layer and said second semiconductive layer to form a mixed layer comprising proportionally less of said first semiconductive material than said first semiconductive layer and proportionally less of said second semiconductive material than said second semiconductive layer while retaining said first and second semiconductive layers with a reduced thickness.
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11. A photovoltaic or photoconducting device comprising:
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a first electrode;
a first semiconductive layer, predominantly comprising a first organic semiconductive material, over at least part of said first eletrode;
a mixed layer over said first semiconductive layer;
a second semiconductive layer, predominantly comprising a second organic semiconductive material, over said mixed layer; and
a second electrode over at least part of said second semiconductive layer, wherein said mixed layer is connected with the first and second semiconductive layers and comprises a mixture of said first and second semiconductive material having proportionally less of said first semiconductive material than said first semiconductive layer and proportionally less of said second semiconductive material than said second semiconductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
poly(phenylene) and derivatives thereof, poly(phenylene vinylene) and derivatives thereof, poly(thiophene) and derivatives thereof, poly(thienylenevinylene) and derivatives thereof and poly(isothianaphthene) and derivatives thereof.
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24. A device as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one of the polymers is a poly(squaraine) or a derivative thereof.
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25. A device as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one of the polymers is a polymer containing perylene units.
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26. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the semiconductive materials comprises an organic pigment or dye.
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27. A device as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one of the semiconductive materials comprises an organometallic polymer.
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28. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of the semiconductive materials comprises material selected from the group consisting of phthalocyanines, perylenes, naphthalocyanines, squaraines, merocyanines and their respective derivatives.
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29. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the semiconductive materials comprises an azo-dye consisting of azo chromofore (—
- N═
N—
) linking aromatic groups.
- N═
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30. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the semiconductive materials further comprises a poly(silane), or poly(germanate).
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31. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first or/and the second semiconductive material is doped with organic or inorganic dopants.
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32. A device as claimed in any one of claim 13, wherein the first semiconductive material comprises POPT and said second semiconductive material comprises MCP.
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33. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first semiconductive material comprises P3HT and said second semiconductive material comprises MCP.
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34. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said mixed layer is an interpenetrating network of said first and second semiconductive materials.
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35. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first semiconductive layer is more than 80% by weight said first semiconductive material.
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36. A device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first semiconductive layer is a homolayer of said first semiconductive material.
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37. A device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first semiconductive layer also contains said second semiconductive material.
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38. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second semiconductive layer is more than 80% by weight said second semiconductive material.
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39. A device as claimed in claim 38, wherein said second semiconductive layer is a homolayer of said second semiconductive material.
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40. A device as claimed in claim 38, wherein said second semiconductive layer also contains said first semiconductive material.
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41. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein one or a plurality of layers is between said first electrode and said first semiconductive layer.
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42. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first electrode is in physical contact with said first semiconductive layer.
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43. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein one or a plurality of layers is between said second electrode and said second semiconductive layer.
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44. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second electrode is in physical contact with said second semiconductive layer.
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45. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first electrode has a higher work function than said second electrode.
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46. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first electrode comprises indium tin oxide and said second electrode comprises aluminum.
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47. A decice as claimed in claim 13, wherein first and second electrodes have substantially the same work function.
Specification