Bio-Based Transparent Conductive Film Consisting of Polyethylene Furanoate and Silver Nanowires for Flexible Optoelectronic Devices

Exploiting biomass has raised great interest as an alternative to the fossil resources for environmental protection. In this respect, polyethylene furanoate (PEF), one of the bio-based polyesters, thus reveals a great potential to replace the commonly used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on account of its better mechanical, gas barrier, and thermal properties. Herein, a bio-based, flexible, conductive film is successfully developed by coupling a PEF plastic substrate with silver nanowires (Ag NWs). Besides the appealing advantage of renewable biomass, PEF also exhibits a good transparency around 90% in the visible wavelength range, and its constituent polar furan moiety is revealed to enable an intense interaction with Ag NWs to largely enhance the adhesion of Ag NWs grown above, as exemplified by the superior bending and peeling durability than the currently prevailing PET substrate. Finally, the efficiency of conductive PEF/Ag NWs film in fabricating efficient flexible organic thin-film transistor and organic photovoltaic (OPV) is demonstrated. The OPV device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 6.7%, which is superior to the device based on ITO/PEN device, manifesting the promising merit of the bio-based PEF for flexible electronic applications.

Uniform Luminous Perovskite Nanofibers with Color-Tunability and Improved Stability Prepared by One-Step Core/Shell Electrospinning

A one-step core/shell electrospinning technique is exploited to fabricate uniform luminous perovskite-based nanofibers, wherein the perovskite and the polymer are respectively employed in the core and the outer shell. Such a coaxial electrospinning technique enables the in situ formation of perovskite nanocrystals, exempting the needs of presynthesis of perovskite quantum dots or post-treatments. It is demonstrated that not only the luminous electrospun nanofibers can possess color-tunability by simply tuning the perovskite composition, but also the grain size of the formed perovskite nanocrystals is largely affected by the perovskite precursor stoichiometry and the polymer solution concentration. Consequently, the optimized perovskite electrospun nanofiber yields a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 30.9%, significantly surpassing the value of its thin-film counterpart. Moreover, owing to the hydrophobic characteristic of shell polymer, the prepared perovskite nanofiber is endowed with a high resistance to air and water. Its photoluminescence intensity remains constant while stored under ambient environment with a relative humidity of 85% over a month and retains intensity higher than 50% of its initial intensity while immersed in water for 48 h. More intriguingly, a white light-emitting perovskite-based nanofiber is successfully fabricated by pairing the orange light-emitting compositional perovskite with a blue light-emitting conjugated polymer.

Realizing Efficient Lead-Free Formamidinium Tin Triiodide Perovskite Solar Cells via a Sequential Deposition Route

Recently, the evolved intermediate phase based on iodoplumbate anions that mediates perovskite crystallization has been embodied as the Lewis acid-base adduct formed by metal halides (serve as Lewis acid) and polar aprotic solvents (serve as Lewis base). Based on this principle, it is proposed to constitute efficient Lewis acid-base adduct in the SnI₂ deposition step to modulate its volume expansion and fast reaction with methylammonium iodide (MAI)/formamidinium iodide (FAI) (FAI is studied hereafter). Herein, trimethylamine (TMA) is employed as the additional Lewis base in the tin halide solution to form SnY₂ -TMA complexes (Y = I^- , F^- ) in the first-step deposition, followed by intercalating with FAI to convert into FASnI. It is shown that TMA can facilitate homogeneous film formation of a SnI₂ (+SnF₂ ) layer by effectively forming intermediate SnY₂ -TMA complexes. Meanwhile, its relatively larger size and weaker affinity with SnI₂ than FA+ ions will facilitate the intramolecular exchange with FA+ ions, thereby enabling the formation of dense and compact FASnI₃ film with large crystalline domain (>1 µm). As a result, high power conversion efficiencies of 4.34% and 7.09% with decent stability are successfully accomplished in both conventional and inverted perovskite solar cells, respectively.

Intrinsically stretchable, solution-processable functional poly(siloxane-imide)s for stretchable resistive memory applications

A stretchable WORM-type resistive memory device was fabricated using poly(siloxane-imide) ODPA-A12 with favorable mechanical properties.

Effects of Self-Assembled Monolayer Modification of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles Layer on the Performance and Application of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Entirely low-temperature solution-processed (≤100 °C) planar p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer great potential for commercialization of roll-to-roll fabricated photovoltaic devices. However, the stable inorganic hole-transporting layer (HTL) in PSCs is usually processed at high temperature (200-500 °C), which is far beyond the tolerant temperature (≤150 °C) of roll-to-roll fabrication. In this context, inorganic NiO_x nanoparticles (NPs) are an excellent candidate to serve as the HTL in PSCs, owing to their excellent solution processability at room temperature. However, the low-temperature processing condition is usually accompanied with defect formation, which deteriorates the film quality and device efficiency to a large extent. To suppress this setback, we used a series of benzoic acid selfassembled monolayers (SAMs) to passivate the surface defects of the NiO_x NPs and found that 4-bromobenzoic acid could effectively play the role of the surface passivation. This SAM layer reduces the trap-assisted recombination, minimizes the energy offset between the NiO_x NPs and perovskite, and changes the HTL surface wettability, thus enhancing the perovskite crystallization, resulting in more stable PSCs with enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.4 %, exceeding the control device PCE (15.5 %). Also, we incorporated the above-mentioned SAMs into flexible PSCs (F-PSCs) and achieved one of the highest PCE of 16.2 % on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate with a remarkable power-per-weight of 26.9 W g^-1 . This facile interfacial engineering method offers great potential for the large-scale manufacturing and commercialization of PSCs.

Intrinsically Stretchable Nanostructured Silver Electrodes for Realizing Efficient Strain Sensors and Stretchable Organic Photovoltaics

In this study, a new hybrid electrode featuring a high gauge factor of >30, decent stretchability (100% of the original conductivity can be retained after 50 cycles of stretching under a 20% strain without prestrain treatment), high transmittance (>70%) across 400-900 nm, and a good sheet resistance (<50 Ω sq^-1) was successfully exploited. These superior properties were revealed to originate from the reversible phase separation endowed by the nanogranular-like morphology formed in Ag. Owing to such discrete nanomorphology, the free volume within this Ag electrode is susceptible to the applied tensile strain and the ensuing change in conductivity enables the realization of an efficient strain sensor. Besides, a representative PTB7-th:PC₇₁BM organic photovoltaic (OPV) using this electrode (with the assistance of a wrinkled scaffold to reinforce the stretchability of the active layer) can exhibit a power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6% along with high deformability, for which 75% of its original PCE is retained after 50 cycles of stretching under a 20% strain. Meanwhile, a representative all-polymer OPV consisting of a PTB7-th:N2200 blend, in which the N2200 has a better mechanical stretchability than that of PC₇₁BM, can maintain over 96% of its original PCE after 50 cycles of stretching (under a 20% strain) without employing the wrinkled scaffold. Such promising performance in stretchable OPVs is among the state-of-the-art results reported to date.

SrCl2 Derived Perovskite Facilitating a High Efficiency of 16% in Hole-Conductor-Free Fully Printable Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells

Despite the breakthrough of over 22% power conversion efficiency demonstrated in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), critical concerns pertaining to the instability and toxicity still remain that may potentially hinder their commercialization. In this study, a new chemical approach using environmentally friendly strontium chloride (SrCl₂ ) as a precursor for perovskite preparation is demonstrated to result in enhanced device performance and stability of the derived hole-conductor-free printable mesoscopic PVSCs. The CH₃ NH₃ PbI₃ perovskite is chemically modified by introducing SrCl₂ in the precursor solution. The results from structural, elemental, and morphological analyses show that the incorporation of SrCl₂ affords the formation of CH₃ NH₃ PbI₃ (SrCl₂ )_x perovskites endowed with lower defect concentration and better pore filling in the derived mesoscopic PVSCs. The optimized compositional CH₃ NH₃ PbI₃ (SrCl₂ )_0.1 perovskite can substantially enhance the photovoltaic performance of the derived hole-conductor-free device to 15.9%, outperforming the value (13.0%) of the pristine CH₃ NH₃ PbI₃ device. More importantly, the stability of the device in ambient air under illumination is also improved.

Doping Versatile n-Type Organic Semiconductors via Room Temperature Solution-Processable Anionic Dopants

In this study, we describe a facile solution-processing method to effectively dope versatile n-type organic semiconductors, including fullerene, n-type small molecules, and graphene by commercially available ammonium and phosphonium salts via in situ anion-induced electron transfer. In addition to the Lewis basicity of anions, we unveiled that the ionic binding strength between the cation and anion of the salts is also crucial in modulating the electron transfer strength of the dopants to affect the resulting doping efficiency. Furthermore, combined with the rational design of n-type molecules, an n-doped organic semiconductor is demonstrated to be thermally and environmentally stable. This finding provides a simple and generally applicable method to make highly efficient n-doped conductors which complements the well-established p-doped organics such as PEDOT:PSS for organic electronic applications.

A stable, efficient textile-based flexible perovskite solar cell with improved washable and deployable capabilities for wearable device applications

An efficient textile-based flexible perovskite solar cell with improved washable and deployable capabilities was demonstrated for wearable device applications.

Stabilized Wide Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells by Tin Substitution

Wide bandgap MAPb(I_1-yBr_y)₃ perovskites show promising potential for application in tandem solar cells. However, unstable photovoltaic performance caused by phase segregation has been observed under illumination when y is above 0.2. Herein, we successfully demonstrate stabilization of the I/Br phase by partially replacing Pb²⁺ with Sn²⁺ and verify this stabilization with X-ray diffractometry and transient absorption spectroscopy. The resulting MAPb_0.75Sn_0.25(I_1-yBr_y)₃ perovskite solar cells show stable photovoltaic performance under continuous illumination. Among these cells, the one based on MAPb_0.75Sn_0.25(I_0.4Br_0.6)₃ perovskite shows the highest efficiency of 12.59% with a bandgap of 1.73 eV, which make it a promising wide bandgap candidate for application in tandem solar cells. The engineering of internal bonding environment by partial Sn substitution is believed to be the main reason for making MAPb_0.75Sn_0.25(I_1-yBr_y)₃ perovskite less vulnerable to phase segregation during the photostriction under illumination. Therefore, this study establishes composition engineering of the metal site as a promising strategy to impart phase stability in hybrid perovskites under illumination.

A Low-Temperature, Solution-Processable Organic Electron-Transporting Layer Based on Planar Coronene for High-performance Conventional Perovskite Solar Cells

A low-temperature, solution-processable organic electron-transporting material (ETM) is successfully developed for efficient conventional n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). This ETM can show a high efficiency over 17% on rigid device and 14.2% on flexible PVSC. To the best of our knowledge, this efficiency is among the highest values reported for flexible n-i-p PVSCs with negligible hysteresis thus far.

Modulation of PEDOT:PSS pH for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Reduced Potential Loss and Enhanced Stability

Inverted p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) using PEDOT:PSS as the hole-transporting layer (HTL) is one of the most widely adopted device structures thus far due to its facile processability and good compatibility for high throughput manufacturing processes. However, most of the PEDOT:PSS-based CH₃NH₃PbI₃ PVSCs reported to date suffered an inferior open-circuit voltage (V_OC) (0.88-0.95 V) compared to that (1.05-1.12 V) obtained for common CH₃NH₃PbI₃ PVSCs, revealing a severe potential loss issue. Herein, we describe a simple method to alleviate this problem by tuning the pH value of PEDOT:PSS with a mild base, imidazole. Accompanied by the pH modulation, the blended imidazole concurrently tailors the surface texture and electronic properties of PEDOT:PSS to promote the quality and crystallization of the perovskite film deposited on top of it and enable better energy-level alignment at this corresponding interface. Consequently, the PVSC using this modified PEDOT:PSS HTL yields an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.7% with an enlarged V_OC of 1.06 V and improved long-term stability. These outperform the pristine device showing a PCE of 12.7% with a much smaller V_OC of 0.88 V and unsatisfactory environmental stability.

Stable Low-Bandgap Pb-Sn Binary Perovskites for Tandem Solar Cells

A low-bandgap (1.33 eV) Sn-based MA_0.5 FA_0.5 Pb_0.75 Sn_0.25 I₃ perovskite is developed via combined compositional, process, and interfacial engineering. It can deliver a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.19%. Finally, a four-terminal all-perovskite tandem solar cell is demonstrated by combining this low-bandgap cell with a semitransparent MAPbI₃ cell to achieve a high efficiency of 19.08%.

Improved Ambient-Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by a Hybrid Polymeric Electron-Transporting Layer

In this work, an efficient inverted perovskite solar cell with decent ambient stability is successfully demonstrated by employing an n-type polymer, poly{[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} (N2200), as the electron-transporting layer (ETL). The device performance can be further enhanced from a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15 to 16.8 % by tailoring the electronic properties of N2200 with a polymeric additive, poly[9,9-bis(6'-(N,N-diethylamino)propyl)-fluorene-alt-9,9-bis(3-ethyl(oxetane-3-ethyloxy)-hexyl) fluorene] (PFN-Ox). More importantly, the device derived from this hybrid ETL can maintain good ambient stability inherent from the pristine N2200 ETL, for which 60-70 % of initial PCE can be retained after being stored in air with 10-20 % humidity for 45 days.

Enhanced Efficiency and Stability of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells Using Highly Crystalline SnO2 Nanocrystals as the Robust Electron-Transporting Layer

Highly crystalline SnO2 is demonstrated to serve as a stable and robust electron-transporting layer for high-performance perovskite solar cells. Benefiting from its high crystallinity, the relatively thick SnO2 electron-transporting layer (≈120 nm) provides a respectable electron-transporting property to yield a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE)(18.8%) Over 90% of the initial PCE can be retained after 30 d storage in ambient with ≈70% relative humidity.

Large Grained Perovskite Solar Cells Derived from Single-Crystal Perovskite Powders with Enhanced Ambient Stability

In this study, we demonstrate the large grained perovskite solar cells prepared from precursor solution comprising single-crystal perovskite powders for the first time. The resultant large grained perovskite thin film possesses a negligible physical (structural) gap between each large grain and is highly crystalline as evidenced by its fan-shaped birefringence observed under polarized light, which is very different from the thin film prepared from the typical precursor route (MAI + PbI2).

Hexaazatrinaphthylene Derivatives: Efficient Electron-Transporting Materials with Tunable Energy Levels for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATNA) derivatives have been successfully shown to function as efficient electron-transporting materials (ETMs) for perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). The cells demonstrate a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.6 % with negligible hysteresis. This study provides one of the first nonfullerene small-molecule-based ETMs for high-performance p-i-n PVSCs.

Abnormal Current-Voltage Hysteresis Induced by Reverse Bias in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Photovoltaics

In this study, reverse bias (RB)-induced abnormal hysteresis is investigated in perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) with nickel oxide (NiOx)/methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) interfaces. Through comprehensive current-voltage (I-V) characterization and bias-dependent external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements, we demonstrate that this phenomenon is caused by the interfacial ion accumulation intrinsic to CH3NH3PbI3. Subsequently, via systematic analysis we discover that the abnormal I-V behavior is remarkably similar to tunnel diode I-V characteristics and is due to the formation of a transient tunnel junction at NiOx/CH3NH3PbI3 interfaces under RB. The detailed analysis navigating the complexities of I-V behavior in CH3NH3PbI3-based solar cells provided here ultimately illuminates possibilities in modulating ion motion and hysteresis via interfacial engineering in PVSCs. Furthermore, this work shows that RB can alter how CH3NH3PbI3 contributes to the functional nature of devices and provides the first steps toward approaching functional perovskite interfaces in new ways for metrology and analysis of complex transient processes.

Current Challenges and Prospective Research for Upscaling Hybrid Perovskite Photovoltaics

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite photovoltaics (PSCs) are poised to push toward technology translation, but significant challenges complicating commercialization remain. Though J-V hysteresis and ecotoxicity are uniquely imposing issues at scale, CH3NH3PbI3 degradation is by far the sharpest limitation to the technology's potential market contribution. Herein, we offer a perspective on the practical market potential of PSCs, the nature of fundamental PSC challenges at scale, and an outline of prospective solutions for achieving module scale PSC production tailored to intrinsic advantages of CH3NH3PbI3. Although integrating PSCs into the energy grid is complicated by CH3NH3PbI3 degradation, the ability of PSCs to contribute to consumer electronics and other niche markets like those organic photovoltaics have sought footing in rests primarily upon the technology's price point. Thus, slot die, roll-to-roll processing has the greatest potential to enable PSC scale-up, and herein, we present a perspective on the research necessary to realize fully printable PSCs at scale.

Rigidifying Nonplanar Perylene Diimides by Ring Fusion Toward Geometry-Tunable Acceptors for High-Performance Fullerene-Free Solar Cells

Rigid fused perylene diimide (PDI) dimers bridged with heterocycles exhibit superior photovoltaic performance compared to their unfused semiflexible analogues. Changing the chalcogen atoms in the aromatic bridges gradually increases the twist angles between the two PDI planes, leading to a varied morphology in which the one bridged by thiophene achieves a balance and shows the best efficiency of 6.72%.

Design rules for the broad application of fast (<1 s) methylamine vapor based, hybrid perovskite post deposition treatments

While organo-metal halide perovskite photovoltaics have seen rapid development, growth of high quality material remains a challenge.

A Low-Temperature, Solution-Processable, Cu-Doped Nickel Oxide Hole-Transporting Layer via the Combustion Method for High-Performance Thin-Film Perovskite Solar Cells

Low-temperature, solution-processable Cu-doped NiOX (Cu:NiOx ), prepared via combustion chemistry, is demonstrated as an excellent hole-transporting layer (HTL) for thin-film perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Its good crystallinity, conductivity, and hole-extraction properties enable the derived PVSC to have a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.74%. Its general applicability for various elecrode materials is also revealed.

Room-temperature, solution-processable organic electron extraction layer for high-performance planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells

In this work, we describe a room-temperature, solution-processable organic electron extraction layer (EEL) for high-performance planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PHJ PVSCs). This EEL is composed of a bilayered fulleropyrrolidinium iodide (FPI)-polyethyleneimine (PEIE) and PC61BM, which yields a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.7% with insignificant hysteresis. We reveal that PC61BM can serve as a surface modifier of FPI-PEIE to simultaneously facilitate the crystallization of perovskite and the charge extraction at FPI-PEIE/CH3NH3PbI3 interface. Furthermore, the FPI-PEIE can also tune the work function of ITO and dope PC61BM to promote the efficient electron transport between ITO and PC61BM. Based on the advantages of room-temperature processability and decent electrical property of FPI-PEIE/PC61BM EEL, a high-performance flexible PVSC with a PCE ∼10% is eventually demonstrated. This study shows the potential of low-temperature processed organic EEL to replace transition metal oxide-based interlayers for highly printing compatible PVSCs with high-performance.

Navigating Organo-Lead Halide Perovskite Phase Space via Nucleation Kinetics toward a Deeper Understanding of Perovskite Phase Transformations and Structure-Property Relationships

Organo-lead halide perovskite photovoltaics have developed faster than our understanding of the material itself. Using the vast body of work on perovskite processing created in just the past few years, it is possible to create a better picture of this material's complex phase-transformation behavior. This concept paper summarizes and correlates the current understanding of structural intermediates, kinetic controls, and structure-property relationships of organo-lead iodide perovskites. To this end, a new way of graphically relating information is developed, allowing the simultaneous mapping of schematic kinetic relationships between all currently prevailing perovskite deposition and growth techniques.