Understanding Environment Stability for High Efficiency OSCs

• Grant number: 25/04462-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Barbeitas Miranda
• Grantee: Anderson Emanuel Ximim Gavim
• Supervisor: Thuc-Quyen Nguyen
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/15666-3 - Organic solar cells based on non-fullerene acceptors: fabrication and optoelectronic characterization, BP.PD

Abstract

Organic solar cells (OSCs) stand out among emerging photovoltaic technologies due to their flexibility, low weight, and tunable optical properties. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by limited stability under real-world environmental stressors such as humidity, oxygen, temperature fluctuations, and prolonged light exposure. This project focuses on unraveling the key degradation pathways of state-of-the-art OSCs based on PM6:Y6 and related polymer acceptors, examining how different device layers-active materials, interlayers, and electrodes-respond to various aging conditions. By integrating advanced characterization techniques, including Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Solid-State NMR, Photoconductive AFM, and Ultrafast Transient Absorption, we aim to pinpoint critical failure modes at the molecular and nanoscale levels. Ultimately, this research seeks to guide the design of more resilient donor-acceptor blends and interlayers, fostering OSCs that combine high efficiency with robust long-term performance and thereby accelerating the practical deployment of organic photovoltaics in sustainable energy applications. (AU)