# US 9,040,318 B2 · Lamination as a modular approach for building organic photosensitive devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,318 B2 - Document ID: US9040318B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/083,220 - Filed: 2011-04-08 - Published: 2011-10-13 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-09 - Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University - Applicants: Yueh-Lin Loo; Jong Bok Kim - Inventors: Yueh-Lin Loo; Jong Bok Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040318B2 ## CPC - H10K 71/621: {Providing a shape to conductive layers, e.g. patterning or selective deposition} - B82Y 10/00: Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic - H10K 71/50: Forming devices by joining two substrates together, e.g. lamination techniques - H10K 30/211: {comprising multiple junctions, e.g. double heterojunctions} - H10K 30/30: comprising bulk heterojunctions, e.g. interpenetrating networks of donor and acceptor material domains - H10K 30/50: Photovoltaic [PV] devices - H10K 85/113: {Heteroaromatic compounds comprising sulfur or selene, e.g. polythiophene} - H10K 85/215: {comprising substituents, e.g. PCBM} - Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract There is disclosed a modular lamination approach for processing organic photosensitive devices that allows the individual processing of device components, that once processed are brought together in a final step to make electrical contact. The disclosed method of preparing a laminated photosensitive device having at least one donor-acceptor heterojunction comprises: preparing a top electrode by depositing a functional material on a flexible substrate, such as an elastomer; optionally processing the functional material to obtain desired properties prior to lamination; preparing a bottom portion by depositing a second functional material over a substrate; optionally processing the second functional material to obtain desired properties prior to lamination; and coupling the top electrode to said bottom portion to form a laminated photosensitive device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for preparing a laminated organic photosensitive device having at least one photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunction, the method comprising: preparing an organic first portion comprising a first electrode by depositing at least one organic functional material directly onto a flexible substrate, a portion of the flexible substrate being treated to provide a deposition surface, the deposition surface being treated by exposing the portion of the flexible substrate to UV/ozone, the first electrode being deposited on the deposition surface; preparing an organic second portion over a second substrate, the organic second portion comprising at least one of a second electrode, an additional organic functional material, or both; wherein at least one processing step is performed on at least one of the first organic functional material, and the second organic portion to obtain desired properties prior to lamination; and laminating the first organic portion to the organic second portion to form a laminated organic solar cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate of the organic first portion comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a metal chosen from Ti, Au, Al, and Ag, a metal oxide, a conducting polymer, a carbon nanotube containing material, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises ITO on a glass or plastic substrate, wherein the substrate has been treated with UV/Ozone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second functional material comprises a photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunction comprised of small molecule materials, polymer materials, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the laminating is performed such that the interface between the first portion and the second portion is substantially free of air bubbles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the laminating is performed under ambient temperature with or without extraneous heat and/or pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the laminating is performed by annealing the second functional material at an appropriate temperature followed by lamination with the first electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the at least one functional material or at least one second functional material comprises a process chosen from thermal annealing and exposure to solvent vapors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least two photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunctions are formed and wherein one of the first or second functional materials comprises a charge transfer layer, a charge recombination layer or a third electrode and connects the at least two photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunctions to form a tandem organic solar cell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the elastomer comprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the PDMS is in the form of a pad that is prepared by mixing a PDMS prepolymer and a curing agent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second functional material comprises poly(3-hexylthiophene), [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, and poly{[n,n′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5′-(2,2′-bithiophene)}, or mixtures thereof, and wherein the second functional material is deposited over a titanium electron transport layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second functional material comprises poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester and poly(3-hexylthiophene)/poly{[n,n′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthale-ne-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5-(2,2′-bithiophene)}. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising electrical contacts chosen from Ag or Au. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the laminating is performed under ambient temperature with or without extraneous pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the elastomer comprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one conducting material comprises a metal chosen from Ti, Au, Al, and Ag, a metal oxide, a conducting polymer, a carbon nanotube containing material, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one conducting material comprises indium tin oxide. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one functional material comprises small molecules, polymers, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising optional processing of the first portion and/or the second portion by thermal annealing, exposure to solvent vapors, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the donor-acceptor heterojunction comprises: poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester; poly(3-hexylthiophene)/poly{[n,n′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5′-(2,2′-bithiophene)}; or combinations thereof. ### Claim 24 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. ### Claim 25 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. ### Claim 26 A method for preparing a laminated organic photosensitive device having at least one photoactive donor-acceptor heterojunction, the method comprising: preparing an organic first portion comprising a first electrode by depositing at least one organic functional material directly onto a flexible substrate; preparing an organic second portion over a second substrate, the second substrate being treated with UV/Ozone, the organic second portion comprising at least one of a second electrode, an additional organic functional material, or both; laminating the organic first portion to the organic second portion to form a laminated organic solar cell. ### Claim 27 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.