Abstract
The choice of interfacial materials and their properties play a critical role in determining solar cell performance and stability. For compatibility with roll-to-roll printing, it is desirable to develop stable cathode interface layers (CILs) that can be processed over the photoactive layer using orthogonal solvents. In this study, an n-type naphthalene diimide core and oligo (ethylene glycol) side-chain-based conjugated polymer is reported as a universal, efficient CIL for organic and perovskite photovoltaics. Besides good thermal stability and easy processing in alcohol/water, the new CIL is found to possess electron transport properties with an electrical conductivity of 2.3 × 10–6 S cm–1, enabling its use as a CIL with a film thickness of up to ∼35(±2) nm. Utilizing the new CIL, 16% power conversion efficiency (PCE) is achieved for organic solar cells (OSCs) based on the PM6-Y6 photoactive layer (8.9% PCE for no CIL and 15.1% with state-of-the-art CIL, PDINO), and perovskite solar cells from methylammonium lead iodide yielded a PCE of 17.6%. Compared to the reference devices, the new CIL reduced trap-assisted carrier recombination and increased the built-in potential by 80 mV, simultaneously enhancing all photovoltaic parameters. Moreover, new CIL based devices had better photostability with no burn-in losses.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Chemistry of Materials |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 19 2021 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-07-29Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): OSR-2019-CARF/CCF-3079, OSRCRG2018-3737
Acknowledgements: This publication is based upon work supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) under Award No: OSR2018-KAUST-KAU Initiative-3902, OSRCRG2018-3737, OSR-2019-CARF/CCF-3079, TUBITAK 2551 Program (216Z139), and British Council Newton Fund Institutional Links (ref: 337067). B.C.S. acknowledges the UK Research
and Innovation for Future Leaders Fellowship no. MR/ S031952/1.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Chemistry
- General Chemical Engineering
- General Chemistry