QuBics · Understanding the Working Mechanisms of Quaternary Blend Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs)

In response to recent climate tragedies, European Union (EU) is taking rapid action with its ambitious European Green Deal (EGD) to transform our economies and societies greener. As a result, the EU is encouraging the transformation of our buildings and vehicles from energy consumers to energy producers by installing lightweight, flexible, colourful, transparent, low-cost, and environmentally friendly solar panels. These are precisely the features of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Despite the benefits, the commercialization of OPVs has yet to occur, with power conversion efficiency (PCE) being the primary impediment. In recent years, significant advancements in developing novel design architecture, such as quaternary blend systems (q-OPVs) that employ cutting-edge non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs), helped achieve PCE of over 18%. However, a lack of understanding of the fundamental mechanisms behind novel q-OPVs has impeded further advancement. As a result, Dr. Arunagiri Lingeswaran (experienced researcher (ER)) intends to solve this issue by employing advanced spectroscopic techniques to develop a new design rule for fabricating one-of-a-kind and highly efficient q-OPVs that go beyond the state-of-the-art. ER intends to bring an efficiency breakthrough in the OPV field by utilizing the inter/multidisciplinary aspects of research involving physics, chemistry, materials science, and device engineering to achieve this ambitious goal using the host institution's excellent infrastructural resources. The proposed project (QuBics) complements the ER's expertise in fabricating cutting-edge q-OPVs and the host scientist's knowledge of studying device physics. Overall, the new skills and expertise obtained via this fellowship will help ER mature into a better researcher capable of managing his research group in a few years, ideally in Europe, his desired career path.