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Fu Z, Qiao JW, Cui FZ, Zhang WQ, Wang LH, Lu P, Yin H, Du XY, Qin W, Hao XT. π-π Stacking Modulation via Polymer Adsorption for Elongated Exciton Diffusion in High-Efficiency Thick-Film Organic Solar Cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2313532. [PMID: 38386402 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Developing efficient organic solar cells (OSCs) with thick active layers is crucial for roll-to-roll printing. However, thicker layers often result in lower efficiency. This study tackles this challenge using a polymer adsorption strategy combined with a layer-by-layer approach. Incorporating insulator polystyrene (PS) into the PM6:L8-BO system creates PM6+PS:L8-BO blends, effectively suppressing trap states and extending exciton diffusion length in the mixed donor domain. Adding insulating polymers with benzene rings to the donor enhances π-π stacking of donors, boosting intermolecular interactions and electron wave function overlap. This results in more orderly molecular stacking, longer exciton lifetimes, and higher diffusion lengths. The promoted long-range exciton diffusion leads to high power conversion efficiencies of 19.05% and 18.15% for PM6+PS:L8-BO blend films with 100 and 300 nm thickness, respectively, as well as a respectable 16.00% for 500 nm. These insights guide material selection for better exciton diffusion, and offer a method for thick-film OSC fabrication, promoting a prosperous future for practical OSC mass production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Fu
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Wei Qiao
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Feng-Zhe Cui
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Qing Zhang
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Ling-Hua Wang
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Peng Lu
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
- School of Physics, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Physics Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Hang Yin
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Yan Du
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Wei Qin
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Tao Hao
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250100, P. R. China
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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Vertically optimized phase separation with improved exciton diffusion enables efficient organic solar cells with thick active layers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2369. [PMID: 35501300 PMCID: PMC9061803 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29803-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of organic solar cells (OSCs) with thick active layers is of crucial importance for the roll-to-roll printing of large-area solar panels. Unfortunately, increasing the active layer thickness usually results in a significant reduction in efficiency. Herein, we fabricated efficient thick-film OSCs with an active layer consisting of one polymer donor and two non-fullerene acceptors. The two acceptors were found to possess enlarged exciton diffusion length in the mixed phase, which is beneficial to exciton generation and dissociation. Additionally, layer by layer approach was employed to optimize the vertical phase separation. Benefiting from the synergetic effects of enlarged exciton diffusion length and graded vertical phase separation, an efficiency of 17.31% (certified value of 16.9%) is obtained for the 300 nm-thick OSC, with a short-circuit current density of 28.36 mA cm−2, and a high fill factor of 73.0%. Moreover, the device with an active layer thickness of 500 nm also shows an efficiency of 15.21%. This work provides valuable insights into the fabrication of OSCs with thick active layers. Exciton diffusion length and graded vertical phase separation of the active layer play a critical role in the realization of high-performance thick-film organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, authors demonstrated OSCs with an efficiency of 17.31%, with an active layer thickness of around 300 nm.
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Xu X, Li Y, Peng Q. Recent advances in morphology optimizations towards highly efficient ternary organic solar cells. NANO SELECT 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/nano.202000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of EducationCollege of Chemistryand State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringSichuan University Chengdu 610064 P. R. China
| | - Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of EducationCollege of Chemistryand State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringSichuan University Chengdu 610064 P. R. China
| | - Qiang Peng
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of EducationCollege of Chemistryand State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringSichuan University Chengdu 610064 P. R. China
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