Silicon Naphthalocyanine Tetraimides: Cathode Interlayer Materials for Highly Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Naphthalocyanine derivatives (SiNcTI-N and SiNcTI-Br) were firstly used as excellent cathode interlayer materials (CIMs) in organic solar cells, via introducing four electron-withdrawing imide groups and two hydrophilic alkyls. Both of them showed deep LUMO energy levels (below -3.90 eV), good thermal stability (T-d > 210 degrees C), and strong self-doping property. The SiNcTI-Br CIM displayed high conductivity (4.5 x 10(-5) Scm(-1)) and electron mobility (7.81 x 10(-5) cm(2)V(-1) s(-1)), which could boost the efficiencies of the PM6:Y6-based OSCs over a wide range of CIM layer thicknesses (4-25 nm), with maximum efficiency of 16.71%.

Automated summary

Naphthalocyanine derivatives (SiNcTI-N and SiNcTI-Br) were used as cathode interlayer materials (CIMs) in organic solar cells for the first time, showing excellent performance. Among them, SiNcTI-Br CIM exhibited high conductivity and electron mobility, effectively enhancing the efficiency of PM6:Y6-based OSCs.