Thick‐Film High‐Performance Solar Cells with a C₆₀‐Containing Polystyrene Additive

Abstract

In this study, a C60‐containing polystyrene (PS‐C60) is used as an effective polymer additive for thick‐film high‐performance polymer solar cells, which are necessary for performing roll‐to‐roll mass production in the future. The PS‐C60‐processed device exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.34 ± 0.10%; the PCE is still high (7.30 ± 0.10%) for an active layer thickness of 450 nm, which is more than twice that observed in non‐additive devices (3.11 ± 0.15%). The usage of PS‐C60 results in an efficient exciton dissociation and charge extraction, less bimolecular recombination, and superior charge transport. These effects lead to an improved device performance, even with a thick active layer. Surprisingly, PS‐C60 also helps the film to retain its morphology at high temperatures, thereby improving its thermal stability. The PS‐C60 device retains ≈90% of the initial PCE after conducting a high‐temperature treatment, whereas a remarkable decrease (≈55%) is observed in case of the non‐additive one. The versatility and applicability of the strategy that is presented in this study can considerably help the development of stable thick‐layer devices in terms of satisfying the requirements of the roll‐to‐roll production of solar cells.

Over 17.6% Efficiency Organic Photovoltaic Devices with Two Compatible Polymer Donors

“…The more ordered crystalline structure in vertical direction is favorable to charge transport in ternary active layers. [ 58,59 ] It is noted that the OOP (100) lamellar peak of D18‐Cl is absent, and the IP (200) lamellar peak of D18‐Cl is rather weak in the GIWAXS profiles of D18‐Cl:Y6 blend films; obvious OOP (100) and IP (200) lamellar peaks of PM6 can still be observed in the PM6:Y6 blend films, which may be interpreted from the inferior compatibility between PM6 and Y6 () compared with that between D18‐Cl and Y6 (). [ 60 ] The more seriously disturbed lamellar packing of D18‐Cl molecules by the Y6 incorporation than that of PM6 should be unfavorable for the hole transport, as supported by the lower hole mobility in D18‐Cl:Y6 binary blend films than that in PM6:Y6 films.…”

Effect of Third Component on Efficiency and Stability in Ternary Organic Solar Cells: More than a Simple Superposition

“…Furthermore, our group introduced a C 60 ‐containing polymeric third component, PS‐C 60 , into a PBDBDT/ITIC‐based BHJ film. [ 110 ] Likewise, the AFM and TEM images of the device with PS‐C 60 showed no notable change to the film upon thermal treatment at 150 °C for 8 h. In conclusion, morphology locking is a promising way of enhancing the stability of OSC devices.…”

Recent Progress of Organic Solar Cells with Insulating Polymers

“…Therefore, the charge mobility and PCE in the ternary thick-film device (300 nm) were higher than the thinfilm device (<300 nm). Furthermore, Cheng's group found that the P3HT chain would extend in the noncrystalline phase and shorten in the crystalline phase when low contents of PMMA [52] PS-C 60 processed PBDB-T:ITIC (450 nm) 15.6 0.870 52.9 7.30 [52] are added in the blend. [42] It was indicated that the more homogeneous distribution and long-range connection of the P3HT chain were established.…”

“…Of late, Yang's group synthesized an effective additive of C 60 ‐containing polystyrene (PS‐C 60 ) for thick‐film OSCs, and the host photovoltaic system in this work was PBDB‐T:ITIC. [ 52 ] The PS‐C 60 ‐processed device with a thickness of 450 nm yielded a higher PCE (7.3%) than the corresponding nonadditive device (3.11%), in spite of no clear improvement in the PCE for the thin‐film (<200 nm) device. Through in‐depth research, these changes were led by suppressed bimolecular recombination, more efficient exciton dissociation, and charge transportation.…”