Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. H. Y. Ho, J. Kothari, X. Fu, F. So
Summary: The tandem structure provides a practical way to achieve high-efficiency organic solar cells by overcoming several bottlenecks in single-junction OSCs. The interconnecting layer plays a critical role in determining device performance and reproducibility in tandem OSCs. Different classes of interconnecting layers are compared based on their optical, mechanical, and chemical properties in this review paper.
MATERIALS TODAY ENERGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meng Zhang, Zhiqun Lin
Summary: Tandem solar cells (TSCs) are an effective device architecture for surpassing the Shockley-Queisser limit, and organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are a promising material for TSCs. The interconnecting layer (ICL) plays a crucial role in achieving high-efficiency monolithic devices. This review discusses the functions of ICLs, their structural requirements, recent advances, and the challenges and opportunities for designing robust ICLs for high-efficiency and stable TSCs.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cinthya Anrango-Camacho, Karla Pavon-Ipiales, Bernardo A. Frontana-Uribe, Alex Palma-Cando
Summary: This review examines the recent advancements in metal oxides, metal sulfides, nanocarbon materials, conducting polymers, and small organic molecules as hole transporting layers (HTLs) in organic solar cells (OSCs) over the past five years. The preparation and deposition methods of HTLs have been optimized, and strategies such as doping, composite/hybrid formation, and modifications have been utilized to tune the optical/electrical properties of these materials for efficient and stable OSCs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangwen Cheng, Ruiqin He, Siqing Nie, Chongjian Zhang, Jun Yin, Jing Li, Nanfeng Zheng, Binghui Wu
Summary: The introduction of perovskite quantum dots as interlayers in perovskite solar cells significantly enhances their performance, efficiency, and stability. These quantum dots play a universal role in improving the interactions between different materials, showing great potential for commercial applications.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guangcong Zhang, Qiaomei Chen, Zhou Zhang, Jie Fang, Chaowei Zhao, Yen Wei, Weiwei Li
Summary: Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been widely used as a hole transporting layer (HTL) in organic solar cells (OSCs), but its acidity reduces device stability. A new cobalt-lanthanum (Co-La) inorganic system was developed as a HTL with a high conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.82%, one of the top PCEs in binary OSCs. The Co-La system enhances work function and conductivity compared to Co or La-based HTLs, making it a promising replacement for PEDOT:PSS in OSCs.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
K. M. Anoop, T. N. Ahipa
Summary: Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells have shown promising potential in photovoltaic research. However, commercialization is still a challenge. Developing low-cost, high-efficiency hole-transporting materials is crucial for scalable production of these solar cells.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ik Jae Park, Dong Hoe Kim, Su Geun Ji, You Jin Ahn, So Jeong Park, Daehan Kim, Byungha Shin, Jin Young Kim
Summary: By controlling the thickness of the window layers composed of C-60 and indium tin oxide (ITO), optical losses can be reduced to increase photocurrent density, but the balance between optical, electrical, and structural properties must be maintained. The optimal design maximizes photoresponse without compromising device performance.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Md Aslam Uddin, Prem Jyoti Singh Rana, Zhenyi Ni, Xuezeng Dai, Zhenhua Yu, Zhifang Shi, Haoyang Jiao, Jinsong Huang
Summary: This study reports a new method for the fabrication of highly efficient PSCs and modules in ambient conditions. The use of blade technique to prepare thin films with good conductivity, along with additives that enhance the coverage and dispersity of perovskite and PCBM, leads to superior efficiency and stability.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Mohammad Mahdi Tavakoli, Huayan Si, Jing Kong
Summary: The study investigates the impact of transporting and recombination layers on the photovoltaic parameters of two-terminal tandem organic solar cells, finding that using SnO2 nanocrystals as an electron transporting layer and a specific recombination layer can significantly increase the fill factor and open circuit voltage.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuning Zhang, Hong Zhang, Yanxun Li, Saud-uz Zafar, Shuo Yang, Jianhui Chen, Huiqiong Zhou, Yuan Zhang
Summary: Organic solar cells (OSCs) have experienced rapid improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to advances in materials and device engineering. The choice of buffer layer materials for interface charge transport and collection is critical to optimize PCE. While hole transport layers (HTLs) have received less attention compared to electron transport layers (ETLs), the commercial material PEDOT:PSS has limitations for efficiency and stability enhancement. This review summarizes recent progress in HTL materials, including modifications to PEDOT:PSS and alternative materials based on polymers and inorganic oxides, and provides an outlook on the possibilities and challenges in this field.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Zhao, Peng Sun, Zhongwei Wu, Jun Li, Xiaohan Wang, Ting Xiao, Lin Yang, Zijian Zheng, Zhifeng Huang
Summary: The use of titanium-based metal nanopillar arrays (NaPAs) along with a 5 nm thick TiO2 passivation layer can significantly improve the efficiency of perovskite solar cells and enhance long-term stability.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ayon Das Mahapatra, Jin-Wook Lee
Summary: Charge transporting layers (CTLs) are crucial for the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Metal oxide CTLs have been widely used due to their transparency, stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, there are still limitations in metal oxide CTLs, which can be resolved through nanostructure tuning, doping, and surface/interface functionalization approaches. Future perspectives for the further development of metal oxide CTLs for PSCs are discussed.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen Wang, Wenlong Shao, Jiwei Liang, Cong Chen, Xuzhi Hu, Hongsen Cui, Chenwei Liu, Guojia Fang, Chen Tao
Summary: In this study, lead thiocyanate and 2-thiopheneethylammonium chloride were synergistically used to passivate and stabilize wide bandgap perovskites, resulting in reduced open-circuit voltage loss and improved efficiency of the solar cells. Furthermore, the interconnection layer was optimized to construct high-voltage perovskite/organic tandem solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
J. Khan, N. U. Rahman, W. U. Khan, Y. Wang, S. Fu, G. Ahmed, M. N. Akhtar, M. Wu
Summary: The study utilized three-dimensional hollow TiO2 sub-microspheres as the electron transport layer to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells. The PSC based on sub-microsphere films showed significantly better efficiency compared to the counterpart using TiO2 nanoparticles.
MATERIALS TODAY ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yeasin Khan, Yohan Ahn, Ju Hwan Kang, Azmat Ali, Yu Jung Park, Bright Walker, Jung Hwa Seo
Summary: Interfacial layers play an important role in controlling the band structure and performance of perovskite solar cells. This study demonstrates the use of anionic polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) polyelectrolytes as p-type interfacial layers in perovskite solar cells. The formation of interfacial dipoles effectively modifies the work function of PEDOT:PSS and the Fermi energy of the CH3NH3PbI3 layer, resulting in improved electron blocking and hole extracting characteristics at the anode.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Waner He, Qian Liu, Sultan Otep, Hidetoshi Matsumoto, Sergei Manzhos, Prashant Sonar, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw, Tsuyoshi Michinobu
Summary: A novel DPP-based conjugated polymer, PDPPy-BDD, was synthesized and showed ambipolar field-effect transistor characteristics with average hole and electron mobilities of 3.5 x 10(-3) and 3.07 x 10(-2) cm(2) V-1 s(-1), respectively. The addition of tetramethylammonium iodide (NMe4I) successfully enhanced both the hole and electron mobilities by promoting stronger interchain pi-pi stackings, weakening face-on packing orientation in the thin film state, and increasing channel conductivities in the OFETs.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Baiqiao Liu, Shijie Liang, Safakath Karuthedath, Yakun He, Jing Wang, Wen Liang Tan, Hao Li, Yunhua Xu, Frederic Laquai, Christoph J. Brabec, Christopher R. McNeill, Chengyi Xiao, Zheng Tang, Jianhui Hou, Fan Yang, Weiwei Li
Summary: In this study, a non-fused electron acceptor was incorporated into double-cable conjugated polymers for single-component organic solar cells (SCOSCs) with near-infrared absorption. The non-fused electron acceptor consisted of a thienyl-phenyl-thienyl core with an end group of 2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1ylidene)malononitrile (IC), which served as the side unit for creating the double-cable polymers. The conjugated backbone selected was poly(benzodithiophene), and the optical and electronic properties were tuned by varying the number of chlorine (Cl) atoms. The resulting double-cable polymers showed an efficiency of over 8% and a broad photoresponse range from 300 to 800 nm in SCOSCs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amandeep Singh Pannu, Suvankar Sen, Xiaodong (Tony) Wang, Robert Jones, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, Prashant Sonar
Summary: Organic-inorganic hybrid lead trihalide perovskites have shown promise in various optoelectronic devices. Red-emitting perovskite-based LEDs have been less developed compared to green and blue ones. This study utilizes red-emitting 2D perovskites and carbon dots to create a stable composite material for red-emitting LEDs with improved performance.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dou Luo, Zhengyan Jiang, Wen Liang Tan, Lifu Zhang, Lanqing Li, Chengwei Shan, Christopher R. McNeill, Prashant Sonar, Baomin Xu, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw
Summary: This study demonstrates the construction of highly efficient ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) based on blending two non-fused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) with a donor. The ternary system exhibits improved charge transfer efficiency due to the alloy-like phase formed by the two NFREAs, as well as increased current and voltage resulting from complementary absorption spectra and energy transfer. Vertical phase separation further enhances the performance of the OSCs.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Doan Vu, Wen Liang Tan, Lu He, Alexander Ehm, Dietrich R. T. Zahn, Christopher R. McNeill
Summary: We report the discovery of a third crystalline polymorph of the electron-transporting conjugated polymer P(NDI2OD-T2), called form III, which exhibits an end-on texture. This new polymorph is characterized by the incorporation of two monomer units along the backbone-stacking direction, resulting in a doubling of the unit cell c axis. The formation of form III crystallites is achieved by melt annealing a thin film followed by slow cooling. Analysis using grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) and peak simulation confirms the unique packing of this polymorph. This discovery presents an exciting opportunity to study the structure/function relationships of this important semiconducting polymer.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Amjad Islam, Khurram Usman, Zeeshan Haider, Muhammad Fakhar Alam, Ali Nawaz, Prashant Sonar
Summary: Compared to their inorganic counterparts, organic optoelectronic devices receive attention due to their lower cost, mechanical flexibility, bandgap engineering, and solution processability. Biomass materials have emerged as effective candidates to modify the interfacial properties of organic solar cells, perovskite solar cells, and organic light-emitting diodes, leading to improved efficiency. The use of biomass interlayer materials is still in its early stages, but their nontoxicity, biorelevance, sustainability, proton conductivity, and functional groups have stimulated researchers globally to fabricate novel devices.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Xiangwei Qu, Guohong Xiang, Jingrui Ma, Pai Liu, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw, Kai Wang, Xiao Wei Sun
Summary: In this work, we find that blue quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) exhibit electron over-injection compared to hole injection using impedance spectroscopy and capacitance-voltage characteristics analysis. We also observe the spatial distribution of the exciton recombination zone in blue QLEDs using a red quantum dot as a fluorescent sensor. Our findings provide a practical method for identifying excess carrier in blue QLEDs and have implications for other types of QLEDs.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xue Lai, Shiyan Chen, Xiaoyu Gu, Hanjian Lai, Yunpeng Wang, Yulin Zhu, Hui Wang, Jianfei Qu, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw, Haiping Xia, Feng He
Summary: Interfacial engineering with two alcohol-soluble cathode interfacial materials based on carbolong achieves high efficiency of 21.7% and long thermal stability in perovskite/organic tandem solar cells. By synthesizing double-phenanthroline-carbolong, an organic solar cell with the highest efficiency of 18.2% is obtained, which also exhibits excellent stability.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pietro Rossi, Francesca Pallini, Giulia Coco, Sara Mattiello, Wen Liang Tan, Lorenzo Mezzomo, Marco Cassinelli, Guglielmo Lanzani, Christopher R. McNeill, Luca Beverina, Mario Caironi
Summary: The novel compound IStBI can efficiently intercalate into thin films of an n-type polymer, leading to improved electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power factor.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Andreas Erhardt, Adrian Hochgesang, Christopher R. McNeill, Mukundan Thelakkat
Summary: This article introduces the copolymerization of classical acceptor motifs diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and thienopyrrolodione (TPD) to produce the acceptor-acceptor polymer Poly(DPP-TPD). The goal is to enhance electron affinity (EA) and ensure stability and ion compatibility by incorporating hydrophilic oligoethylene glycol N-substituents. The study demonstrates the suitability of the polymer for n-type organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) devices, with high EA, ionization potential, and electron mobility.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xin Li, Chengyi Xiao, Zhaofan Yang, Hao Wang, Baiqiao Liu, Wen Liang Tan, Qiaomei Chen, Chao Wang, Christopher R. McNeill, Weiwei Li
Summary: In this study, three double-cable conjugated polymers were developed for indoor single-component organic solar cells (SCOSCs). The new polymers have pendent nonfused electron acceptors with A-pi-D-pi-A configuration, using 1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione (ID) as an electron-withdrawing end group in group A. These polymers show absorption spectra in the range of 400-700 nm, matching the spectra of indoor LED lights. Additionally, the introduction of ID units and halogen atoms enables the polymers to exhibit high photovoltage (>1.0 V) in SCOSCs, resulting in a high efficiency of 18% under indoor light illumination. This research provides a novel modular design approach for wide-bandgap double-cable conjugated polymers that can be used for indoor photovoltaics.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hytham Elbohy, Hiroo Suzuki, Takeshi Nishikawa, Thiri Htun, Kosei Tsutsumi, Chiyu Nakano, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw, Yasuhiko Hayashi
Summary: This study investigates the impact of benzophenone (BP) on the performance and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells. The results show that BP significantly enhances the power conversion efficiency and improves the stability of the cells stored under ambient air.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Dou Luo, Christoph J. Brabec, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw
Summary: In recent years, the development of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) has significantly advanced organic solar cells (OSCs), achieving power conversion efficiency (PCE) higher than 19%. However, the complex molecular architectures of fused ring electron acceptors limit their mass synthesis and hinder the commercialization of OSCs. Non-fused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs), on the other hand, offer advantages like easy synthesis, simple modifications, and tunability in optical properties. This review analyzes the structure-property relationship of NFREAs, compares their stability and performance with traditional fused ring electron acceptors, and explores the challenges and prospects for high-performance and low-cost manufacturing of devices.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yahui Tang, Wen Liang Tan, Zhuping Fei, Martin Heeney, Christopher R. Mcneill
Summary: In order to understand the limitations of open-circuit voltage in organic solar cells, the energy levels of neat donor and acceptor samples are often characterized, but this may not reflect the energy levels at the donor:acceptor interface in blends. Organic semiconductors, especially non-fullerene acceptors, are sensitive to microstructural changes in thin films. This study investigates the differences in molecular packing between neat and blend films using temperature-dependent current-voltage measurements. The results show that the interfacial energy levels differ for different systems, highlighting the importance of considering microstructure-dependent differences when studying energy losses in non-fullerene acceptor organic solar cells.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dou Luo, Lanqing Li, Erjun Zhou, Wai-Yeung Wong, Aung Ko Ko Kyaw
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of power conversion efficiency in P3HT-based organic solar cells by modulating the phase separation morphology. Non-fused ring electron acceptor MOT with ultra-narrow bandgap and absorption up to 1000 nm is synthesized and paired with P3HT. The influence of solvent additives on the phase separation and device performance is explored, with 1-methoxynaphthalene showing the best performance with a PCE of 6.98%. The study not only introduces a new non-fused ring electron acceptor for P3HT, but also develops a simple additive engineering strategy for regulating the morphology in P3HT-based OSCs.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
