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Related Concept Videos

P-N junction01:11

P-N junction

A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
Continuous Charge Distributions01:17

Continuous Charge Distributions

Imagine a bucket of water. It contains many molecules, of the order of 1026 molecules. Thus, although it contains discrete elements (molecules) at the microscopic level, macroscopically, it can be considered continuous. Small volume elements of water, infinitesimal compared to the bulk of the bucket's volume, still contain many molecules. Under this framework, quantized matter is approximated as continuous for practical purposes.
The electric charge can also be subjected to an analogical...
The Electrical Double Layer01:30

The Electrical Double Layer

In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...
Junction Potentials in Galvanic Cells01:21

Junction Potentials in Galvanic Cells

The Nernst equation, derived under the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium, calculates the electromotive force (emf) as the sum of potential differences at phase boundaries in a reversible cell without a liquid junction. However, in irreversible cells such as the Daniell cell, an additional potential difference named the liquid-junction potential (EJ) arises across the interface of two electrolyte solutions due to different ion diffusion rates. This EJ represents the potential difference...
Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution01:21

Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution

The work done to bring a charge through a distance r is given by the potential difference between the initial and the final position. To assemble a collection of point charges, the total work done can be expressed in terms of the product of each pair of charges divided by their separation distance, defined with respect to a suitable origin. Solving this expression gives the energy stored in a point charge distribution.
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells02:47

Voltaic/Galvanic Cells

Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Morphology Control for Fully Printable Organic–Inorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer
08:29

Morphology Control for Fully Printable Organic–Inorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer

Published on: January 10, 2017

Visualizing charge separation in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells.

D Amarasinghe Vithanage1, A Devižis, V Abramavičius

  • 1Chemical Physics, Lund University Box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.

Nature Communications
|August 16, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Understanding charge separation in polymer solar cells is key for efficiency. New research visualizes this process, revealing that fast 3D diffusion drives charge separation within picoseconds, overcoming Coulomb attraction.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Morphology Control for Fully Printable Organic–Inorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer
08:29

Morphology Control for Fully Printable Organic–Inorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer

Published on: January 10, 2017

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids
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Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Published on: August 23, 2012

Printing Fabrication of Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells and In Situ Morphology Characterization
07:32

Printing Fabrication of Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells and In Situ Morphology Characterization

Published on: January 29, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Photovoltaics
  • Organic Electronics

Background:

  • Conjugated polymer and fullerene blends offer a low-cost alternative to silicon solar cells.
  • Efficient operation requires the separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs into mobile charges.
  • The precise mechanisms driving charge separation against Coulomb attraction remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To visualize and understand the ultrafast charge separation dynamics in polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells.
  • To elucidate the role of charge carrier diffusion and energetic disorder in overcoming Coulomb attraction.
  • To provide experimental evidence complementing theoretical models of charge separation.

Main Methods:

  • Direct measurement of charge carrier drift using ultrafast time-resolved techniques.
  • Investigation of polymer:fullerene blend systems.
  • Complementary numerical simulations of charge carrier dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Charge pairs are initially created at close separations (<1 nm).
  • Charge separation occurs over several nanometers within picoseconds.
  • Free carriers are formed on a sub-nanosecond timescale.
  • Fast three-dimensional charge diffusion in an energetically disordered medium drives separation.

Conclusions:

  • Fast 3D charge diffusion and increased system entropy are sufficient to drive charge separation.
  • This work provides critical insights into the fundamental processes governing organic solar cell efficiency.
  • Understanding these dynamics can guide the design of improved organic photovoltaic materials.