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Li P, Chen L, Hu X, He L, Jiang Z, Luo M, Huang H, Yuan W, He Y. Effective Double Electron Transport Layer Inducing Crystallization of Active Layer for Improving the Performance of Organic Solar Cells. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 12:15. [PMID: 35009965 PMCID: PMC8746582 DOI: 10.3390/nano12010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interface modification plays an important role in enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency and stability of organic solar cells. In this work, alkali metal lithium chloride (LiCl) was introduced between indium tin oxide and polyethyleneimine ethoxylate (PEIE) to prepare a double-layer electron transport layer. Results show that the introduction of LiCl has dual functions. The first function is that LiCl can enhance conductivity, thereby facilitating charge collection. The second function is that the double-layer electron transport layer based on LiCl can induce the crystallization of active layer, thereby enhancing charge transport. Devices with LiCl/PEIE double layer achieve a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.84%, which is 21.5% higher than that of pristine devices (the PCE of pristine devices with pure PEIE interface layer is 3.16%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Lijia Chen
- College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China;
| | - Xiaoyan Hu
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Lirong He
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Zezhuan Jiang
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Minghao Luo
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Haishen Huang
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Wei Yuan
- Department of Rail Transportation Engineering, GuiZhou Communication Polythechnic, Guiyang 551400, China;
| | - Yinghu He
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563006, China; (X.H.); (L.H.); (Z.J.); (M.L.); (H.H.); (Y.H.)
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Lien HT, Chang YC, Huang CY, Hsu HC, Chang ST, Wong DP, Wang CH, Wang CH, Chen KH, Chen LC. Solar to hydrocarbon production using metal-free water-soluble bulk heterojunction of conducting polymer nanoparticle and graphene oxide. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:164707. [PMID: 33940797 DOI: 10.1063/5.0042716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This work demonstrates the first example of interfacial manipulation in a hybrid photocatalyst based on poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) nanoparticle and graphene oxide (GO) bulk heterojunctions to efficiently reduce CO2 into selective industrial hydrocarbons under gas-phase reaction and visible-light illumination. High selectivity of chemical products (methanol and acetaldehyde) was observed. Moreover, the hybrid photocatalyst's solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency was 13.5 times higher than that of pure GO. The increased production yield stems from the co-catalytic and sensitizing role of P3HT in the hybrid system due to its ability to extend light absorption to the visible range and improve interfacial charge transfer to GO. The hybrid P3HT-GO formed a type II heterojunction, and its static and dynamic exciton behaviors were examined using fluorescence spectroscopy and exciton lifetime mapping. A reduced fluorescence decay time was observed by interfacial manipulation for improved dispersion, indicating a more efficient charge transfer from the excited P3HT to GO. Thus, the conducting polymer nanoparticles, 2D nanocarbon, have demonstrated superior performance as a metal-free, non-toxic, low-cost, and scalable heterogeneous photocatalyst for CO2 reduction to solar fuel, a solid-gas system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Ting Lien
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chung Chang
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Huang
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Cheng Hsu
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sun-Tang Chang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Deniz P Wong
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hsin Wang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Hao Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Hsien Chen
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chyong Chen
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Ghazy O, Freisinger B, Lieberwith I, Landfester K. Tuning the size and morphology of P3HT/PCBM composite nanoparticles: towards optimized water-processable organic solar cells. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:22798-22807. [PMID: 33174566 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr05847e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The function of an organic solar cell relies on making a contact surface between a donor and acceptor material. For efficient conversion of solar energy, this heterojunction must be maximized. Nanoparticulate systems already have a large surface-to-volume ratio per se. We increase the area of the heterojunction even further. Based on the miniemulsion process, colloidal particles are produced that contain both donor and acceptor material. Composite nanoparticles of Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT : PCBM) are prepared via the miniemulsion method. Here, the process parameters are tuned to optimize the efficacy of the composite nanoparticles. Depending on the surfactant concentration, the solvent and the processing temperature, we can tune the particle size and the morphology of the intraparticular heterojunction from Janus type to core-shell structures. Based on these findings, we finally identify the process parameters to achieve optimal solar cell performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omayma Ghazy
- National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, 3 Ahmed Elzomor St, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
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Kim YJ, Schaller RD, Fry HC. Control of Shell Morphology in p-n Heterostructured Water-Processable Semiconductor Colloids: Toward Extremely Efficient Charge Separation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1803563. [PMID: 30427577 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201803563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This article describes p-n heterostructured water-borne semiconductor naonoparticles (NPs) with unique surface structures via control of shell morphology. The shell particles, comprising PC60-[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61 BM) composite, having n-type semiconductor characteristics, notably influence the charge carrier behavior in the core-shell NPs. A one- or two-phase methodology based on a PC60 surfactant-water phase and PC61 BM n-type semiconductor-organic phase provides highly specific control over the shell structure of the NPs, which promote their superior charge separation ability when combined with poly-3-hexyl-thiophene (P3HT). Moreover, the resulting water-borne NP exhibits shell morphology-dependent carrier quenching and stability, which is characterized via luminescence studies paired with structural analysis. Corresponding to the results, outstanding performances of photovoltaic cells with over 5% efficiency are achieved. The results suggest that the surrounding shell environments, such as the shell structure, and its electronic charge density, are crucial in determining the overall activity of the core-shell p-n heterostructured NPs. Thus, this work provides a new protocol in the current fields of water-based organic semiconductor colloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jin Kim
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Richard D Schaller
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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Parrenin L, Laurans G, Pavlopoulou E, Fleury G, Pecastaings G, Brochon C, Vignau L, Hadziioannou G, Cloutet E. Photoactive Donor-Acceptor Composite Nanoparticles Dispersed in Water. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:1507-1515. [PMID: 28099813 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b04496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A major issue that inhibits the large-scale fabrication of organic solar modules is the use of chlorinated solvents considered to be toxic and hazardous. In this work, composite particles of poly[N-9'-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4,7-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole] (PCDTBT) and [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) were obtained in water from a versatile and a ready-to-market methodology based on postpolymerization miniemulsification. Depending on the experimental conditions, size-controlled particles comprising both the electron donor and the electron acceptor were obtained and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), UV-visible absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Intimate mixing of the two components was definitely asserted through PCDTBT fluorescence quenching in the composite nanoparticles. The water-based inks were used for the preparation of photovoltaic active layers that were subsequently integrated into organic solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Parrenin
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
| | - Gildas Laurans
- Laboratoire IMS, Bordeaux INP, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Biologie et Physique , 16 Av. Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
- Laboratoire IMS, Université de Bordeaux, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Biologie et Physique , 16 Av. Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Eleni Pavlopoulou
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
| | - Guillaume Fleury
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
| | - Gilles Pecastaings
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
| | - Cyril Brochon
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
| | - Laurence Vignau
- Laboratoire IMS, Bordeaux INP, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Biologie et Physique , 16 Av. Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
- Laboratoire IMS, Université de Bordeaux, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Biologie et Physique , 16 Av. Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Georges Hadziioannou
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
| | - Eric Cloutet
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Université de Bordeaux , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (INP) , UMR 5629, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Bât B8, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France
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Wang S, Singh A, Walsh N, Redmond G. Surfactant-free, low band gap conjugated polymer nanoparticles and polymer:fullerene nanohybrids with potential for organic photovoltaics. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:245601. [PMID: 27159927 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/24/245601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Stable, aqueous dispersions of nanoparticles based on the low band gap polymers poly [2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)] (APFO-3) and poly [N-9'-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) were prepared, using a flexible, surfactant-free reprecipitation method, and characterized by a variety of optical techniques. Light scattering measurements indicated average nanoparticle hydrodynamic diameters of approximately 40 nm. The particles presented wide-bandwidth absorption and photoluminescence excitation spectra with high absorption cross-sections on the order of 10(-12) cm(2). Nanoparticle emission spectra were significantly red-shifted, with decreased emission quantum yields and lifetimes, consistent with increased inter-polymer chain interactions in the condensed phase. Single particle photoluminescence studies highlighted the multi-chromophoric nature of the polymer nanoparticles and confirmed their favorable photostabilities. When the nanoparticles were doped with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), the correspondence of photoluminescence emission quenching, quantum yield decreases, emission lifetime shortening, and increased non-radiative rates with increasing PCBM concentration suggested efficient photo-induced donor-to-acceptor charge transfer between the conjugated polymers and the fullerene dopants co-localized in the nanoparticle cores. Taken together, the data suggest that these surfactant-free hybrid nanomaterials may be useful for integration with future nanostructured organic photovoltaics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suxiao Wang
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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