Air-Stable Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells Using Solution-Processed Nanocrystalline ZnO Interfacial Layer

Tan, Mein Jin; Zhong, Shu; Li, Jun; Chen, Zhi-Kuan; Chen, Wei

doi:10.1021/am303004r

Cited by 86 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…[ 45 ] It is well known that steady-state infrared experiments can give insights into the local interactions between donor and acceptor moieties. [ 46 ] Figure 5 b shows clearly that the carboxylate group is broadened (due to charge delocalization) and downshifted by about 11 cm −1 after annealing, providing a clear signature for the electrostatic binding of the free carboxylate to the surface of ZnO NPs. Here, we infer that before annealing, these free carboxylates with their negative charges drive the electrons to the ZnO surface by means of repulsion forces.…”

Section: Solar Cell Performancementioning

confidence: 96%

Ambient Layer‐by‐Layer ZnO Assembly for Highly Efficient Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Eita

Labban

Cruciani

et al. 2015

Adv Funct Materials

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To produce printable, portable, and fl exible bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, the development of effi cient, inexpensive, and high-throughput fabrication methods is critically important. A number of methods to fabricate BHJ solar cells already exist, including highvacuum deposition systems, solution processing, and direct chemical deposition on device substrates. [ 5,[14][15][16] Because solution processing is amenable to the formation of an interpenetrating donoracceptor network, while also being a costeffective approach, it is one of the most promising approaches to large-scale BHJ solar cell modules. [ 15,16 ] Among various solution processable donor-acceptor systems, polymer BHJ solar cells based on interpenetrating networks of conjugated polymer and fullerene derivatives as donor and acceptor materials have exhibited a power conversion effi ciency (PCE) up to ≈10%. [17][18][19][20] This dramatic increase in photovoltaic performance is caused by the optimization of the morphology of the active layer, the device architecture, and the interface control of the electron donors and acceptors. The other important approach to optimizing the interpenetrating networks and interfacial contacts between the donor and acceptor components is the use of hybrid polymer-metal oxides, in which the polymer acts as the light-absorbing component. [ 15,[21][22][23][24] One of the key issues associated with the polymer-metal oxide BHJ solar cells is the high electron mobilities in the inorganic component compared with the modest hole mobilities in the polymer. Effi cient polymer-metal oxide BHJ solar cells have been demonstrated using ZnO nanoparticles and a conducting polymer, such as a poly-1,4-phenylenevinylene derivative. [ 15,22 ] For instance, under AM1.5 conditions, polymer/ZnO solar cells with short circuit current densities ( J SC ) of 3.3 mA cm −2 , open circuit voltages ( V OC ) of 0.81 V, fi ll factors (FF) of ≈60%, and overall PCE of 1.6% have been reported. [ 15 ] This fi nding indicates that ZnO, an n -type metal oxide, possessing a wide direct bandgap (3.37 eV), an appropriate conduction band, and high electrontransporting properties, is an effective electron transport layer (ETL) for inverted polymer solar cells. [25][26][27] The strong absorption of ZnO in the UV region with a band edge cut-off at 370 nm is also important to blocking UV light and protecting the photoactive layer.

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Section: Solar Cell Performancementioning

confidence: 96%

Ambient Layer‐by‐Layer ZnO Assembly for Highly Efficient Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Eita

Labban

Cruciani

et al. 2015

Adv Funct Materials

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“…In inverted devices, where such layers act as a electron transport layer, ZnO has made significant impact as an interlayer [11,18] owing to its direct band gap, high electron mobility, and high transmission over the visible wavelength range [19] . To eliminate high temperatures from the processing nanoparticle based routes have been explored [20,21] however synthesis can be complex and the resultant films may be rough and inhomogeneous [22] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐Temperature Solution‐Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

Zhang

Faria

Morbidoni

et al. 2016

Adv Elect Materials

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Processing temperature is highlighted as a convenient means of controlling the optical and charge transport properties of solution processed electron transport layers (ETLs) in inverted polymer solar cells. Using the well-studied active layer -poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT):indene-C 60 bisadduct (ICBA) -we show the influence of ETL processing temperatures from 25 °C -450 °C, reporting the role of crystallinity, structure, charge transport and Fermi level (E F ) on numerous device performance characteristics. We determine that an exceptionally low temperature processed ETL (110 °C) increases that device power conversion efficiency (PCE) by a factor greater than 50% compared with a high temperature (450 °C) processed ETL. Modulations in device series and shunt resistance, induced by changes in the ETL transport properties are observed in parallel to significant changes in device open circuit voltage attributed to changes on the E F of the ETLs. Our work highlights the importance of interlayer control in multilayer photovoltaic devices and presents a convenient material compatible with future flexible and roll-to-roll processes.

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“…33 [36][37][38][39] , whereas the IP of 7.75 ± 0.05 eV is high enough to block hole extraction at the donor polymer/ZnONP interface. 42 and ~ average for the series of formulations studies (see Table S1). Upon exposure, an abrupt vacuum level downshift of ~ 0.1 eV is observed as the work function decreases from 3.88 to 3.77 eV, where it stabilizes after 180 min.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of ultraviolet soaking on surface electronic structures of solution processed ZnO nanoparticle films in polymer solar cells

et al. 2014

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Abstract:We systematically show the effect of UV-light soaking on surface electronic structure and chemical states of solution processed ZnO nanoparticle (ZnONP) films in UHV, dry air and UV-ozone. UV exposure in UHV induces a slight decrease in work function and surfacedesorption of chemisorbed oxygen, whereas UV exposure in presence of oxygen cause an increase in work function due to oxygen atom vacancy filling in the ZnO matrix. We demonstrate that UV-light soaking in combination with vacuum or oxygen can tune the work function of the ZnONP films over a range exceeding 1 eV. Based on photovoltaic performance and diode measurements, we conclude that the oxygen atom vacancy filling occurs mainly at the surface of the ZnONP films and that the films consequently retain their n-type behavior despite significant increase in measured work function.

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Air-Stable Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells Using Solution-Processed Nanocrystalline ZnO Interfacial Layer

Cited by 86 publications

References 37 publications

Ambient Layer‐by‐Layer ZnO Assembly for Highly Efficient Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Ambient Layer‐by‐Layer ZnO Assembly for Highly Efficient Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Low‐Temperature Solution‐Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

Effects of ultraviolet soaking on surface electronic structures of solution processed ZnO nanoparticle films in polymer solar cells

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