Toward improved stability of nonfullerene organic solar cells: Impact of interlayer and built‐in potential

Abstract

Improved efficiency and stability of the organic solar cells (OSCs) are the critical considerations for practical applications. The interface between the interlayer and bulk heterojunction has recently been shown as one of the weak links associated with the degradation in the nonfullerene acceptor (NFA)based OSCs. It shows that the removal of the interfacial chemical reactions between the 2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-ylidene)malononitrile (INCN) moieties in NFA and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) hole extraction layer (HEL) is desired for enhancing the device stability. In this work, we show that the use of a bilayer MoO 3 /antimonene HEL favors the operational stability in OSCs through maintaining a high builtin potential and suppression of an undesired interfacial reaction between INCN moieties in NFA and the PEDOT structures in PEDOT:PSS. A power conversion efficiency of 16.68% is also obtained for the OSCs with a bilayer MoO 3 /antimonene HEL, prepared using a blend system of PM6:Y6, demonstrating its suitability for high-performance OSCs.

Efficient and Ultraviolet‐Durable Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells: From Interfacial Passivation and Microstructural Modification Perspectives

“…[1,2] Compared to the encouraging progresses made in the PCE of the NFA-based OSCs, the operational stability of the NFA-based OSCs is still one of the challenges for different applications. [3][4][5] The stability of the NFA-OSCs is closely associated with the intrinsic material properties, thermodynamic factors, stratification of donor and acceptor in the bulk heterojunction (BHJ), interfacial reaction, photo-degradation in the functional layers, and the built-in potential across the BHJ. [6][7][8] Ultraviolet (UV) light-induced photo-degradation is one of the main reasons responsible for the undesired degradation process in OSCs.…”

Melamine-Doped Cathode Interlayer Enables High-Efficiency Organic Solar Cells

“…27−29 Moreover, the electrode interlayer also has an important influence on the device's stability. 30 An appropriate interlayer material could significantly enhance the long-term stability of the device and will play a decisive role in the application of large-area devices in the future.…”

“…These are inseparable from the performance of the devices and have achieved fruitful results. − In addition, the influence of the electrode interlayer on the performance of OSCs has gradually attracted more and more attention, especially the cathode interlayer (CI). A good interface can effectively improve the contact between the active layer and the electrode, promote the formation of an Ohmic contact, increase the carrier extraction efficiency, and inhibit bimolecular recombination. − At the same time, the interlayer can also adjust the electrode work function and improve the charge extraction and selection ability of the electrode. − Moreover, the electrode interlayer also has an important influence on the device’s stability . An appropriate interlayer material could significantly enhance the long-term stability of the device and will play a decisive role in the application of large-area devices in the future.…”

A long-term stable organic semiconductor photocathode-based photoelectrochemical module system for hydrogen production

“…Their advantages include excellent compatibility with various printing technologies for mass production, [9][10][11][12] high power conversion efficiency (PCE) approaching 19% attributed to diversity and exibility in engineering of their chemical structures, [13][14][15][16][17] and superior mechanical properties such as exibility resulting from the interdigitated network and strong interaction between molecules. [18][19][20] In addition, long-term stability of OPV cells has been achieved by interface engineering to prevent chemical degradation of the photoactive layer, 21 the introduction of a third component to balance charge carrier mobilities, 22,23 and the design of new chemical structures of the donor and the acceptor to suppress morphological changes with time. 24 Despite these numerous advantages of OSs, there is a constraint on their use in PEC photoelectrodes because of their chemical instability in aqueous electrolytes and sluggish charge transfer, resulting in a relatively low photocurrent density compared with that of the OPV cell.…”