PbSe nanocrystal/conducting polymer solar cells with an infrared response to 2 micron

We investigated the photovoltaic response of nanocomposites made of colloidal, infrared-sensitive, PbSe nanocrystals (NCs) of various sizes and conjugated polymers of either regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) or poly- (2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV). The conduction and valence energy levels of PbSe NCs were determined by cyclic voltammetry and revealed type II heterojunction alignment with respect to energy levels in RR-P3HT for smaller NC sizes. Devices composed of NCs and RR-P3HT show good diode characteristics and sizable photovoltaic response in a spectral range from the ultraviolet to the infrared. Using these materials, we have observed photovoltaic response at wavelengths as far to the infrared as 2 μm (0.6 eV), which is desirable due to potential benefits of carrier multiplication (or multi-exciton generation) from a single junction photovoltaic. Under reverse bias, the devices also exhibit good photodiode responses over the same spectral region.

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Synthesis of Cyano-Substituted Conjugated Polymers for Photovoltaic Applications

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym11050746 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 746 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mun Ho Yang ◽

Ho Cheol Jin ◽

Joo Hyun Kim ◽

Dong Wook Chang

Keyword(s):

Conjugated Polymers ◽

Molecular Orbital ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Coupling Reaction ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Strong Electron ◽

Photovoltaic Properties

Three conjugated polymers, in which the electron-donating (D) 5-alkylthiophene-2-yl-substitued benzodithiophene was linked to three different electron-accepting (A) moieties, i.e., benzothiadiazole (BT), diphenylquinoxaline (DPQ), and dibenzophenazine (DBP) derivative via thiophene bridge, were synthesized using the Stille coupling reaction. In particular, the strong electron-withdrawing cyano (CN) group was incorporated into the A units BT, DPQ, and DBP to afford three D–A type target polymers PB–BTCN, PB–DPQCN, and PB–DBPCN, respectively. Owing to the significant contribution of the CN-substituent, these polymers exhibit not only low-lying energy levels of both the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, but also reduced bandgaps. Furthermore, to investigate the photovoltaic properties of polymers, inverted-type devices with the structure of ITO/ZnO/Polymer:PC71BM/MoO3/Ag were fabricated and analyzed. All the polymer solar cells based on the three cyano-substituted conjugated polymers showed high open-circuit voltages (Voc) greater than 0.89 V, and the highest power conversion efficiency of 4.59% was obtained from the device based on PB-BtCN with a Voc of 0.93 V, short-circuit current of 7.36 mA cm−2, and fill factor of 67.1%.

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N-Type Self-Doped Water/Alcohol-Soluble Conjugated Polymers with Tailored Energy Levels for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Macromolecules ◽

10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00126 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (6) ◽

pp. 2195-2202 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jianchao Jia ◽

Baobing Fan ◽

Manjun Xiao ◽

Tao Jia ◽

Yaocheng Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Conjugated Polymers ◽

High Performance ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Energy Levels ◽

High Performance Polymer ◽

Water Alcohol

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Effect of carbon hybridization in 9H-fluorene unit on the photovoltaic properties of different fluorene-based conjugated polymers

High Performance Polymers ◽

10.1177/0954008317716526 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 677-687

Author(s):

Zhiguan Lin ◽

Gang Wei ◽

Ling Li ◽

Zhenhuan Lu ◽

Jiefeng Hai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conjugated Polymers ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Photovoltaic Properties ◽

Absorption Energy ◽

Narrow Bandgap ◽

Donor Acceptor ◽

Optical Bandgaps ◽

Fine Tune

To investigate the effect of different carbon hybridization in 9H-fluorene on the resultant polymers, a series of donor–acceptor conjugated polymers have been synthesized by copolymerizing substituted 9H-fluorenes with triazoloquinoxaline. All polymers exhibit good solution-processability and broad absorption in 350–1000 nm region with narrow optical bandgaps ranging from 1.27 eV to 1.55 eV. The results indicate that fluorene functionalization via different carbon hybridization on 9-position could be an effective strategy to fine-tune the absorption, energy levels, and photovoltaic performance of the polymers. 9-Position sp2-hybridized carbon in fluorene could enhance absorption of ultraviolet-visible and form good morphology of blending layers, through its planar rigid structure. All polymer solar cells devices exhibited moderate performance with the best power conversion efficiency of 3.02% achieved based on P2. Compared to ladder-type multifused fluorene, carbon-hybridized 9H-fluorene units can be a very useful building block for constructing narrow bandgap polymers with facile synthesis, and even interesting optoelectronic properties.

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Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers Containing B←N Bonds with Strong Electron Affinity and Extended Absorption

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym11101630 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1630 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bo Pang ◽

Zhonghai Tang ◽

Yongchun Li ◽

Huifeng Meng ◽

Ying Xiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conjugated Polymers ◽

Electron Affinity ◽

Electronic Device ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Thin Film Transistor ◽

Organic Thin Film ◽

Strong Electron ◽

Embedded Unit ◽

P Type

The B←N is isoelectronic to the C–C, with the former having stronger dipole moment and higher electron affinity. Replacing the C–C bonds in conjugated polymers with B←N bonds is an effective pathway toward novel polymers with strong electron affinity and adjustable optoelectronic properties. In this work, we synthesize a conjugated copolymer, namely, BNIDT-DPP, based on a B←N embedded unit, BNIDT, and a typical electron-deficient unit, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP). For comparison, the C–C counterpart, i.e., IDT-DPP, is also synthesized. In contrast to IDT-DPP, the B←N embedded polymer BNIDT-DPP shows an extended absorption edge (836 versus 978 nm), narrowed optical bandgap (1.48 versus 1.27 eV), and higher electron affinity (3.54 versus 3.74 eV). The Gaussian simulations reveal that the B←N embedded polymer BNIDT-DPP is more electron-deficient in contrast to IDT-DPP, supporting the decreased bandgap and energy levels of BNIDT-DPP. Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) tests indicate a well-defined p-type characteristic for both IDT-DPP and BNIDT-DPP. The hole mobilities of IDT-DPP and BNIDT-DPP tested by OTFTs are 0.059 and 0.035 cm2/V·s, respectively. The preliminary fabrication of all-polymer solar cells based on BNIDT-DPP and PBDB-T affords a PCE of 0.12%. This work develops a novel B←N embedded polymer with strong electron affinity and extended absorption, which is potentially useful for electronic device application.

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Pyridine-bridged diketopyrrolopyrrole conjugated polymers for field-effect transistors and polymer solar cells

Polymer Chemistry ◽

10.1039/c5py00538h ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (26) ◽

pp. 4775-4783 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Xiaotao Zhang ◽

Chengyi Xiao ◽

Andong Zhang ◽

Fangxu Yang ◽

Huanli Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Conjugated Polymers ◽

Field Effect ◽

Field Effect Transistors ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Organic Field Effect Transistors ◽

Variable Energy

Five different pyridine-bridged diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymers with variable energy levels were applied in organic field-effect transistors and polymer solar cells.

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Optimization of Sb2S3 Nanocrystal Concentrations in P3HT: PCBM Layers to Improve the Performance of Polymer Solar Cells

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13132152 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 2152

Author(s):

E. M. Mkawi ◽

Y. Al-Hadeethi ◽

R. S. Bazuhair ◽

A. S. Yousef ◽

E. Shalaan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Doping Concentration ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Visible Absorption ◽

Block Polymer ◽

Coating Method ◽

Electronic Parameters ◽

P Type

In this study, polymer solar cells were synthesized by adding Sb2S3 nanocrystals (NCs) to thin blended films with polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester (PCBM) as the p-type material prepared via the spin-coating method. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dependence of polymer solar cells’ performance on the concentration of Sb2S3 nanocrystals. The effect of the Sb2S3 nanocrystal concentrations (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 mg/mL) in the polymer’s active layer was determined using different characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) displayed doped ratio dependences of P3HT crystallite orientations of P3HT crystallites inside a block polymer film. Introducing Sb2S3 NCs increased the light harvesting and regulated the energy levels, improving the electronic parameters. Considerable photoluminescence quenching was observed due to additional excited electron pathways through the Sb2S3 NCs. A UV–visible absorption spectra measurement showed the relationship between the optoelectronic properties and improved surface morphology, and this enhancement was detected by a red shift in the absorption spectrum. The absorber layer’s doping concentration played a definitive role in improving the device’s performance. Using a 0.04 mg/mL doping concentration, a solar cell device with a glass /ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT-PCBM: Sb2S3:NC/MoO3/Ag structure achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.72%. These Sb2S3 NCs obtained by solvothermal fabrication blended with a P3HT: PCBM polymer, would pave the way for a more effective design of organic photovoltaic devices.

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Application of quinoline derivatives in third-generation photovoltaics

Journal of Materials Science Materials in Electronics ◽

10.1007/s10854-021-06225-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gabriela Lewinska ◽

Jerzy Sanetra ◽

Konstanty W. Marszalek

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Polymer Solar Cells ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Photovoltaic Cells ◽

Third Generation ◽

Quinoline Derivatives ◽

Emission Layer ◽

Light Emitting ◽

Photovoltaic Applications ◽

Architecture And Design

AbstractAmong many chemical compounds synthesized for third-generation photovoltaic applications, quinoline derivatives have recently gained popularity. This work reviews the latest developments in the quinoline derivatives (metal complexes) for applications in the photovoltaic cells. Their properties for photovoltaic applications are detailed: absorption spectra, energy levels, and other achievements presented by the authors. We have also outlined various methods for testing the compounds for application. Finally, we present the implementation of quinoline derivatives in photovoltaic cells. Their architecture and design are described, and also, the performance for polymer solar cells and dye-synthesized solar cells was highlighted. We have described their performance and characteristics. We have also pointed out other, non-photovoltaic applications for quinoline derivatives. It has been demonstrated and described that quinoline derivatives are good materials for the emission layer of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and are also used in transistors. The compounds are also being considered as materials for biomedical applications.

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