Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells

Conjugated polymers with ionic pendant groups (CPEs) are receiving increasing attention as solution-processed interfacial materials for organic solar cells (OSCs). Various anionic CPEs have been successfully used, on top of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrodes, as solution-processed anode interlayers (AILs) for conventional devices with direct geometry. However, the development of CPE AILs for OSC devices with inverted geometry is an important topic that still needs to be addressed. Here, we have designed three anionic CPEs bearing alkyl-potassium-sulfonate side chains. Their functional behavior as anode interlayers has been investigated in P3HT:PC61BM (poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) devices with an inverted geometry, using a hole collecting silver electrode evaporated on top. Our results reveal that to obtain effective anode modification, the CPEs’ conjugated backbone has to be tailored to grant self-doping and to have a good energy-level match with the photoactive layer. Furthermore, the sulfonate moieties not only ensure the solubility in polar orthogonal solvents, induce self-doping via a right choice of the conjugated backbone, but also play a role in the gaining of hole selectivity of the top silver electrode.

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Low-temperature synthesis of carbon nanotubes on indium tin oxide electrodes for organic solar cells

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology ◽

10.3762/bjnano.3.60 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 524-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Andrea Capasso ◽

Luigi Salamandra ◽

Aldo Di Carlo ◽

John Marcus Bell ◽

Nunzio Motta

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Tin Oxide ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Gas Flow ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Hole Transport ◽

Electrical Performance ◽

Oxide Electrodes

The electrical performance of indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass was improved by including a controlled layer of carbon nanotubes directly on top of the ITO film. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, using ultrathin Fe layers as catalyst. The process parameters (temperature, gas flow and duration) were carefully refined to obtain the appropriate size and density of MWCNTs with a minimum decrease of the light harvesting in the cell. When used as anodes for organic solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), the MWCNT-enhanced electrodes are found to improve the charge-carrier extraction from the photoactive blend, thanks to the additional percolation paths provided by the CNTs. The work function of as-modified ITO surfaces was measured by the Kelvin probe method to be 4.95 eV, resulting in an improved matching to the highest occupied molecular orbital level of the P3HT. This is in turn expected to increase the hole transport and collection at the anode, contributing to the significant increase of current density and open-circuit voltage observed in test cells created with such MWCNT-enhanced electrodes.

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A mono(carboxy)porphyrin-triazine-(bodipy)2triad as a donor for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

Journal of Materials Chemistry C ◽

10.1039/c5tc01076d ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (24) ◽

pp. 6209-6217 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Ganesh D. Sharma ◽

S. A. Siddiqui ◽

Agapi Nikiforou ◽

Galateia E. Zervaki ◽

Irene Georgakaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Methyl Ester ◽

Butyric Acid ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Solution Processed ◽

Acid Methyl ◽

Butyric Acid Methyl Ester

A mono(carboxy)porphyrin-triazine-(bodipy)2triad(PorCOOH)(BDP)2has been used as a donor with ([6,6]-phenyl C71butyric acid methyl ester) (PC71BM) as an acceptor, in BHJ - solution processed organic solar cells.

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Deformation and Failure of Bendable Organic Solar Cells

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1132.116 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1132 ◽

pp. 116-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joseph Asare ◽

B. Agyei-Tuffour ◽

O.K. Oyewole ◽

G.M. Zebaze-Kana ◽

W.O. Soboyejo

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Visible Spectrum ◽

Optical Transmittance ◽

Hole Injection ◽

Deformation And Failure ◽

Organic Layers

This research investigates the effects of bending on the electrical, optical, structural and mechanical properties of flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells were fabricated on Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using Poly-3-hexylthiophene: [6, 6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) as the active layer and Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) as the hole injection layer. All the organic layers were deposited by spin coating while the Al cathode was vacuum thermally evaporated. The Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) anode has an average optical transmittance of 85% in the visible spectrum, a sheet resistivity of 60 ohms per square and an average surface roughness of 3nm. The relationship between the optoelectronic performance of the various device layers and the applied mechanical strains has been analyzed. The effects of stress and strain on the current-voltage characteristics of the device and its failure were modeled using the Abaqus software.

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Organic solar cells fabricated on inkjet-printed indium tin oxide electrodes

Surface and Coatings Technology ◽

10.1016/j.surfcoat.2011.09.039 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 211 ◽

pp. 33-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Han-Ki Kim ◽

In-Kyu You ◽

Jae Bon Koo ◽

Sung-Ho Kim

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Tin Oxide ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Oxide Electrodes

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Three-Dimensional Nanostructured Indium-Tin-Oxide Electrodes for Enhanced Performance of Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

Advanced Energy Materials ◽

10.1002/aenm.201301566 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (7) ◽

pp. 1301566 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Hyunah Kwon ◽

Juyoung Ham ◽

Dong Yeong Kim ◽

Seung Jae Oh ◽

Subin Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Tin Oxide ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Oxide Electrodes

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Enhanced Photovoltaic Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells by Employing Bathocuproine/Hydrophobic Polymer Films as Hole-Blocking/Electron-Transporting Interfacial Layers

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13010042 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 42

Author(s):

Guan-Zhi Liu ◽

Chi-Shiuan Du ◽

Jeng-Yue Wu ◽

Bo-Tau Liu ◽

Tzong-Ming Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Storage Stability ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Lead Iodide ◽

Photovoltaic Properties ◽

Interfacial Layers ◽

Hydrophobic Polymers ◽

And Storage

In this study, we improved the photovoltaic (PV) properties and storage stabilities of inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) by employing bathocuproine (BCP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and BCP/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as hole-blocking and electron-transporting interfacial layers. The architecture of the PVSCs was indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/MAPbI3/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester/BCP based interfacial layer/Ag. The presence of PMMA and PVP affected the morphological stability of the BCP and MAPbI3 layers. The storage-stability of the BCP/PMMA-based PVSCs was enhanced significantly relative to that of the corresponding unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Moreover, the PV performance of the BCP/PVP-based PVSCs was enhanced when compared with that of the unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Thus, incorporating hydrophobic polymers into BCP-based hole-blocking/electron-transporting interfacial layers can improve the PV performance and storage stability of PVSCs.

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Fabrication and characterization of polysilane: PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells

Open Engineering ◽

10.2478/s13531-012-0057-6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kazumi Yoshida ◽

Takeo Oku ◽

Atsushi Suzuki ◽

Tsuyoshi Akiyama ◽

Katsuhisa Tokumitsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽

Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽

Oxide Electrodes ◽

Coating Method ◽

And Performance ◽

Conversion Efficiencies

AbstractPolysilane/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells were fabricated on indium tin oxide electrodes by a spin-coating method, and performance and microstructures of the solar cells were investigated. Decaphenylcyclopentasilane (PDPS), polymethlyphenylsilane (PMPS) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were used for the solar cells. The conversion efficiencies of PDPS:PCBM solar cells were higher than those of PMPS:PCBM devises. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated that PDPS:PCBM layer had a nanocomposite structure.

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Enhanced Photovoltaic Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells by Employing Bathocuproine/Hydrophobic Polymer Films as Hole-Blocking/Electron-Transporting Interfacial Layers

10.20944/preprints202011.0705.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guan-Zhi Liu ◽

Chi-Shiuan Du ◽

Jeng-Yue Wu ◽

Bo-Tau Liu ◽

Tzong-Ming Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Storage Stability ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Acid Methyl Ester ◽

Lead Iodide ◽

Photovoltaic Properties ◽

Interfacial Layers ◽

Hydrophobic Polymers ◽

And Storage

In this study, we improved the photovoltaic (PV) properties and storage stabilities of inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) by employing bathocuproine (BCP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and BCP/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as hole-blocking and electron-transporting interfacial layers. The architecture of the PVSCs was indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/MAPbI3/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester/BCP:PMMA or BCP:PVP/Ag. The presence of PMMA and PVP affected the morphological stability of the BCP and MAPbI3 layers. The storage-stability of the BCP/PMMA-based PVSCs was enhanced significantly relative to that of the corresponding unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Moreover, the PV performance of the BCP/PVP-based PVSCs was enhanced when compared with that of the unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Thus, incorporating hydrophobic polymers into BCP-based hole-blocking/electron-transporting interfacial layers can improve the PV performance and storage stability of PVSCs.

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Hybrid Lead-Halide Polyelectrolytes as Interfacial Electron Extraction Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12040743 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 743

Author(s):

Jin Hee Lee ◽

Yu Jung Park ◽

Jung Hwa Seo ◽

Bright Walker

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Organic Solar Cells ◽

Indium Tin Oxide ◽

Photoelectron Spectroscopy ◽

Hybrid Composites ◽

Control Device ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Inorganic Materials ◽

Interfacial Layers ◽

Lead Halide

A series of lead-halide based hybrid polyelectrolytes was prepared and used as interfacial layers in organic solar cells (OSCs) to explore their effect on the energy band structures and performance of OSCs. Nonconjugated polyelectrolytes based on ethoxylated polyethylenimine (PEIE) complexed with PbX2 (I, Br, and Cl) were prepared as polymeric analogs of the perovskite semiconductors CH3NH3PbX3. The organic/inorganic hybrid composites were deposited onto Indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates by solution processing, and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measurements confirmed that the polyelectrolytes allowed the work function of the substrates to be controlled. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that Pb(II) halide complexes were present in the thin film and that the Pb halide species did not bond covalently with the cationic polymer and confirmed the absence of additional chemical bonds. The composite ratio of organic and inorganic materials was optimized to improve the performance of OSCs. When PbBr2 was complexed with the PEIE material, the efficiency increased up to 3.567% via improvements in open circuit voltage and fill factor from the control device (0.3%). These results demonstrate that lead-halide based polyelectrolytes constitute hybrid interfacial layers which provide a novel route to control device characteristics via variation of the lead halide composition.

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