Verduzco, Rafael2019-11-252020-12-012019-122019-11-22December 2Hu, Zhiqi. "Molecular Engineering of Efficient and Robust Organic Photovoltaics." (2019) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/107735">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/107735</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/107735Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are appealing alternatives to conventional silicon based solar cells due to their advantages of low-cost, light weight, high flexibility and solution processability. Those properties are of great interest to researchers and make OPV possible candidates as future source of clean energy. However, the low power conversion efficiency and poor mechanical stability prevent the realization of OPV devices for industrial applications. In this thesis, we will demonstrate methods to address the challenges mentioned above. Through investigation of light sensitive polymer materials and optimization of processing conditions, we are able to obtain a better understanding in how OPV performance is related to charge transfer at polymer interface and fabricate OPV devices with improved mechanical stability under stretching/bending induced deformation. Future work will focus on mechanical analysis and molecular simulation of stabilized OPV films. This will allow a better understanding in stability improvement of OPV film on a microscale level. Finally, I wish this thesis can provide insight to those who are interested in the fabrication of OPVs for real world applications.application/pdfengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.Organic PhotovoltaicBulk HeterojunctionBlock CopolymerActive LayerCrosslinked NetworkThesis2019-11-25