Lamination as a modular approach for building organic photosensitive devices

A method for preparing a laminated organic photosensitive device, the method comprising at least one photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunction comprising:

• providing a first substrate comprising an elastomeric material;
• depositing at least one conducting material directly onto the elastomeric material to form a first organic portion comprising at least one first electrode, at least a portion of the first substrate being treated to provide a deposition surface, the deposition surface being treated by exposing the portion of the first substrate to UV/ozone, the first electrode being deposited on the deposition surface;
• providing a second substrate;
• depositing at least one functional material on the second substrate to form a second organic portion;
• optionally processing the second organic portion with at least one pre-lamination step;
• and
• laminating the first organic portion with the second organic portion to form an organic solar cell.

A method for preparing a laminated organic photosensitive device comprising at least one photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunction, the method comprising,

• preparing a first organic portion, the method comprising:
• providing a PDMS substrate prepared from mixing PDMS pre-polymer and a curing agent;
• exposing the PDMS substrate to UV/ozone to provide a deposition surface;
• depositing at least one conducting material chosen from Ti and Au directly onto the deposition surface;
• preparing a second organic portion comprising:
• poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester or
• poly(3-hexylthiophene)/poly{[n,n′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalen-e-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5′-(2,2′-bithiophene)}, and electrical contacts chosen from Ag or Au;
• and
• coupling the PDMS pad of the first portion with the second portion under ambient temperature with or without extraneous pressure, wherein the coupling is performed such that the interface between the PDMS pad and the second portion is substantially free from air bubbles forming an organic solar cell.

A method for preparing a tandem photosensitive device, the method comprising:

• preparing at least one first photosensitive device comprising:
• preparing at least one first photosensitive device comprising, providing a first substrate comprising an elastomeric material;
• depositing at least one conducting material on the elastomeric material to form a first portion comprising a first electrode, a portion of the first substrate being treated to provide a deposition surface, the deposition surface being treated by exposing the portion of the first substrate to UV/ozone, the first electrode being deposited on the deposition surface;
• providing a second substrate;
• depositing a functional material, such as one that forms a photoactive layer, on the second substrate to form a second portion;
• optionally processing the second portion with at least one pre-lamination step;
• coupling the first portion comprising a first electrode with the second portion to form the first photosensitive device;
• and
• preparing at least one second photosensitive device comprising, providing a third substrate comprising an elastomeric material;
• depositing at least one conducting material on the elastomeric material to form a third portion comprising a third electrode;
• optionally processing the third electrode with at least one pre-lamination treatment step;
• providing a fourth substrate;
• depositing a photoactive material on the fourth substrate to form a fourth portion;
• optionally processing the fourth portion with at least one pre-lamination step;
• coupling the third portion with the fourth portion to form a second photosensitive device, wherein the coupling conditions for the first portions and the second portions of the first photosensitive device and the third portions and fourth portions of the second photosensitive device may be the same or different;
• and
• coupling the first photosensitive device with the second photosensitive device.

A method for preparing a laminated organic photosensitive device, the method comprising at least one photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunction comprising:

• providing a first substrate comprising an elastomeric material;
• depositing at least one conducting material directly onto the elastomeric material to form a first organic portion comprising at least one first electrode;
• optionally processing the first portion comprising at least one first electrode with at least one pre-lamination treatment step;
• providing a second substrate;
• treating the second substrate with UV/Ozone;
• depositing at least one functional material on the second substrate to form a second organic portion;
• laminating the organic first portion with the second organic portion to form an organic solar cell.