Solution-Processed Bilayered ZnO Electron Transport Layer for Efficient Inverted Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells

Abstract

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are becoming increasingly popular in the scientific community because of their many desirable properties. These features include solution processability, low weight, low cost, and the ability to process on a wide scale using roll-to-roll technology. Enhancing the efficiency of photovoltaic systems, particularly high-performance OSCs, requires study into not only material design but also interface engineering. This study demonstrated that two different types of OSCs based on the PTB7-Th:IEICO-4F and PM6:Y6 active layers use a ZnO bilayer electron transport layer (ETL). The ZnO bilayer ETL comprises a ZnO nanoparticle (ZnO NP) and a ZnO layer created from a sol-gel. The effect of incorporating ZnO NPs into the electron transport layer (ETL) was studied; in particular, the effects on the electrical, optical, and morphological properties of the initial ZnO ETL were analyzed. The ability of ZnO films to carry charges is improved by the addition of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), which increase their conductivity. The bilayer structure had better crystallinity and a smoother film surface than the single-layer sol-gel ZnO ETL. This led to a consistent and strong interfacial connection between the photoactive layer and the electron transport layer (ETL). Therefore, inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) with PTB7-Th:IEICO-4F and PM6:Y6 as photoactive layers exhibit improved power conversion efficiency and other photovoltaic properties when using the bilayer technique.

Enhanced Absorption in Organic Solar Cells Using Core-Shell Iron-ZnO Nanoparticles: Optical and Numerical Simulations

“…The layers designed for electron-hole exciton separation are configured as follows: ITO (Cathode) 100 nm, PEDOT:PSS (Electron Transport Layer) 40 nm, P3HT:PCBM (Active Layer) 120 nm, ZnO (Hole Transport Layer) 30 nm, and Al (Anode) 100 nm. These thicknesses are optimized, as indicated in the literature, to achieve highest intrinsic absorption and as same the highest short-circuit current density (Jsc) [17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

“…This paper introduces the use of core-shell Fe-ZnO NPs in the design of OSCs. The structure comprises Glass/ Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) [7,18]/ Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) [19]/ Poly(3hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) [20,21]/ ZnO [22,23]/ Al/ Glass layers. The primary aim of this design is to enhance intrinsic absorption through plasmonic far-field and near-field effects.…”