Transition metal oxides as hole-transporting materials in organic semiconductor and hybrid perovskite based solar cells

Selective adhesion of nitrogen-containing toxic gasses on hexagonal boron phosphide monolayer: a computational study

CONTEXT

Various toxic gasses are being released into the environment with the increasing industrialization. However, detecting these gasses at low concentrations has become one of the main challenges in environmental monitoring and protection. Thus, developing sensors with high performance to detect toxic gasses is of utmost significance. For this purpose, researchers have introduced 2D materials thanks to their unique electronic qualities and large specific surface area. Within this piece of research, a hexagonal boron phosphide monolayer (h-BPML) is employed as the substrate material. The adhesion behavior of ambient nitrogen-containing toxic gasses, i.e., N2O, NH3, NO2, and NO, onto the h-BPML is investigated through DFT computations. The adhesion energy values for gasses NO and NO2 were calculated to be - 0.509 and - 0.694 eV on the h-BPML, respectively. Meanwhile, the absorbed energy values for gasses NH3 and N2O were found to be - 0.326 and - 0.119 eV, respectively. The recovery time, DOS, workfunction, and Bader charges were computed based on four optimal adhesion structures. After the absorption of NO on the h-BPML, the value of workfunction of a monolayer decreased from 1.54 to 0.47 eV. This amount of decrease was the greatest among the other gasses absorbed. By comparing the investigated parameters, it can be concluded that the h-BPML has a greater tendency to interact with NO gas compared to other gasses, and it can be proposed as a sensor for NO gas.

METHOD

Within this piece of research, the sensitivity of the h-BPML to four nitrogenous toxic gasses, namely, N2O, NH3, NO2, and NO, was investigated using the DFT with HSE06 hybrid functional by using GAMESS software. For this purpose, we computed the DOS, workfunction, and the Bader charges for the four adhesion systems with most stability.

Advances in Hole Transport Materials for Layered Casting Solar Cells

Huge energy consumption and running out of fossil fuels has led to the advancement of renewable sources of power, including solar, wind, and tide. Among them, solar cells have been well developed with the significant achievement of silicon solar panels, which are popularly used as windows, rooftops, public lights, etc. In order to advance the application of solar cells, a flexible type is highly required, such as layered casting solar cells (LCSCs). Organic solar cells (OSCs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs), or dye-sensitive solar cells (DSSCs) are promising LCSCs for broadening the application of solar energy to many types of surfaces. LCSCs would be cost-effective, enable large-scale production, are highly efficient, and stable. Each layer of an LCSC is important for building the complete structure of a solar cell. Within the cell structure (active material, charge carrier transport layer, electrodes), hole transport layers (HTLs) play an important role in transporting holes to the anode. Recently, diverse HTLs from inorganic, organic, and organometallic materials have emerged to have a great impact on the stability, lifetime, and performance of OSC, PSC, or DSSC devices. This review summarizes the recent advances in the development of inorganic, organic, and organometallic HTLs for solar cells. Perspectives and challenges for HTL development and improvement are also highlighted.

In-depth analysis on PTB7 based semi-transparent solar cell employing MoO3/Ag/WO3 contact for advanced optical performance and light utilization

Novel semi-transparent organic solar cells (ST-OSC) can be designed with high average visible transmittance (AVT) while at the same time exhibiting superior photovoltaic performance. This reach requires their design to be based not only on conventional window applications but also on functional industrial applications that require exceptional optical performance. In ST-OSC, high AVT can be achieved by photonic-based dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) transparent contact engineering. Functional optical modification can also be made with a fine-tuned design of DMD that includes a light management engineering-based approach. Thus, ST-OSCs can be suitable for aesthetic, colourful and decorative industrial windows that provide natural lighting. In this study, we determined optimal ST-OSCs based on a novel PTB7:PC₇₁BM polymer blend with MoO₃/Ag/WO₃ asymmetric DMD top contact by examining extraordinary optical properties such as AVT, colour rendering index, correlated colour temperature and colour perception over 10 thousand designs. In addition to determining the optimality and extraordinary optical limits for PTB7, we also evaluated the photon-harvesting and photovoltaic performance of ST-OSCs from external quantum efficiency and quantum utilization efficiency. In optimal situations, ST-OSCs offering 48.75% AVT, 99.08 CRI, and sky-blue colours were designed and determined to generate short-circuit current densities of 9.88 mA·cm^-2, 13.64 mA·cm^-2, and 13.06 mA·cm^-2, respectively.

Functional optical design of thickness-optimized transparent conductive dielectric-metal-dielectric plasmonic structure

Dielectric/metal/dielectric plasmonic transparent structures play an important role in tailoring the high-optical performance of various optoelectronic devices. Though these structures are in significant demand in applications, including modification of the optical properties, average visible transmittance (AVT) and colour render index (CRI) and correlated colour temperature (CCT), obtaining optimal ones require precise thickness optimization. The overall objective of this study is the estimation of the optimal design concept of MoO₃/Ag/WO₃ (10/d_Ag/d_WO3 nm) plasmonic structure. To explore the proper use in optoelectronic devices, we are motivated to conduct a rigorous optical evaluation on the thickness of layers. Having calculated optical characteristics and achieved the highest AVT of 97.3% for d_Ag = 4 nm and d_WO3 = 6 nm by the transfer matrix method, it is quite possible to offer the potential of the structure acting as a transparent contact. Notably, the colour coordinates of the structure are x = 0.3110 and y = 0.3271, namely, it attributes very close to the Planckian locus. This superior colour performance displays that MoO₃/Ag/WO₃ shall undergo rapid development in neutral-colour windows and LED technologies. Structure with d_Ag = 6 nm and d_WO3 = 16 nm exhibits the highest CRI of 98.58, thus identifying an optimal structure that can be integrated into LED lighting applications and imaging technologies. Besides the colour of structure with d_Ag = 4 nm and d_WO3 = 8 nm is equal for D65 Standard Illuminant, the study reports that the range of CCTs are between 5000 and 6500 K. This optimization makes the structure employable as a near-daylight broadband illuminant. The study emphasizes that optimal MoO₃/Ag/WO₃ plasmonic structures can be used effectively to boost optoelectronic devices' performance.

Prospect of making XPS a high-throughput analytical method illustrated for a CuxNi1−xOy combinatorial material library

Combinatorial material science crucially depends on robust, high-throughput characterization methods. While X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) may provide detailed information about chemical and electronic properties, it is a time-consuming technique and, therefore, is not viewed as a high-throughput method. Here we present preliminary XPS data of 169 measurement spots on a combinatorial 72 × 72 cm² Cu_xNi_1−xO_y compositional library to explore how characterization and evaluation routines can be optimized to improve throughput in XPS for combinatorial studies. In particular, two quantification approaches are compared. We find that a simple integration (of XPS peak regions) approach is suited for fast evaluation of, in the example system, the [Cu]/([Cu] + [Ni]) ratio. Complementary to that, the time-consuming (XPS peak-) fit approach provides additional insights into chemical speciation and oxidation state changes, without a large deviation of the [Cu]/([Cu] + [Ni]) ratio. This insight suggests exploiting the fast integration approach for ‘real time’ analysis during XPS data collection, paving the way for an ‘on-the-fly’ selection of points of interest (i.e., areas on the sample where sudden composition changes have been identified) for detailed XPS characterization. Together with the envisioned improvements when going from laboratory to synchrotron-based excitation sources, this will shorten the analysis time sufficiently for XPS to become a realistic characterization option for combinatorial material science.

Methods for fast quantification of XPS data of a Cu_xNi_1−xO_y combinatorial material library were evaluated in a step towards high-throughput analysis.

Selective and sensitive toxic gas sensors mechanism in 2D Janus MoSSe monolayer

With an inspiration of sensing toxic gases, this paper aims to explore potential of Janus MoSSe monolayer as gas sensor. Here, we focused on adsorption mechanism after the exposure of...

Perovskite hetero-anionic-sublattice interfaces for optoelectronics and nonconventional electronics

The perovskite structure provides a versatile framework for functional materials and their high-quality heteroepitaxial interfaces. Perovskite halides (PH) have attracted intense interest for their application in optoelectronics. Oxides are another major class of perovskites that are widely used in fuel cells, nonconventional electronics and electrochemistry. Interfacing different perovskite oxides (POs) has led to a multitude of fascinating discoveries. By introducing anionic degree of freedom, we expect that perovskite hetero-anionic-sublattice interfaces can provide a new platform for emergent phenomena that may or may not have homo-oxygen-sublattice interface analogues. In this work, we investigate the interfaces between the all-inorganic PH CsPbBr₃, the emerging double perovskite halide (dPH) Cs₂TiBr₆ and various common POs. Based on the band alignment properties, these POs are considered to be suitable carrier transport materials (CTMs) for CsPbBr₃ and Cs₂TiBr₆ in either light-harvesting or light-emitting devices. In addition, these perovskite hetero-anionic-sublattice interfaces are found to be defect- and dangling bond-free due to compatible crystal lattices, making POs potentially outperform conventional binary transition-metal-oxide and organic CTMs. Besides optoelectronics, the potential of perovskite hetero-anionic-sublattice interfaces for nonconventional electronics is also explored. As examples, two-dimensionally confined electron-hole systems are predicted at the asymmetric interfaces in both Cs₂TiBr₆:LaAlO₃ and CsPbBr₃:LaAlO₃ superlattice structures. This finding, along with the optically active properties of PHs, may spark novel applications of light-electron interaction in perovskite systems. This work presents new opportunities for perovskite heteroepitaxial interfaces.

Synthesis, Structure and Photoluminescence Properties of 2D Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites

Two-dimensional (2D) layered hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites have potential applications in solar cells, electroluminescent devices and radiation detection because of their unique optoelectronic properties. In this paper, four 2D layered hybrid organic–inorganic halide perovskites of (C6H5CH2NH3)2PbCl4, (C6H5CH2NH3)2PbBr4, (C6H5CH2NH3)2PbI4 and (C4H9NH3)2PbBr4 were synthesized by solvent evaporation. Their crystal structure and surface morphology were studied. The effects of different halogens and organic amines on perovskites’ absorption spectra were investigated, and the photoluminescence (PL) properties were studied by femtosecond ultrafast spectroscopy. The experimental results show that the four perovskites are well crystallized and oriented. With the increase of halogen atom number (Cl, Br, I) in turn, the UV-Vis absorption spectra peaks of perovskites redshift due to the increasing of the layer spacing, but organic amines have little effect on the spectra of perovskites. The PL intensity increases with increasing laser power, but the lifetime decreases with increasing laser power, which is mainly due to the non-geminate recombination. This research is of great significance for realizing the spectral regulation of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites and promoting their application in nano-photonics and optoelectronic devices.

Effects of Charge Transport Materials on Blue Fluorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with a Host-Dopant System

High efficiency blue fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), based on 1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl)benzene (mCP) doped with 4,4'-bis(9-ethyl-3-carbazovinylene)-1,1'-biphenyl (BCzVBi), were fabricated using four different hole transport layers (HTLs) and two different electron transport layers (ETLs). Fixing the electron transport material TPBi, four hole transport materials, including 1,1-Bis[(di-4-tolylamino)phenyl]cyclohexane (TAPC), N,N'-Di(1-naphthyl)-N,N'-diphenyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4'-diamine(NPB), 4,4'-Bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1,-biphenyl (CBP) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃), were selected to be HTLs, and the blue OLED with TAPC HTL exhibited a maximum luminance of 2955 cd/m² and current efficiency (CE) of 5.75 cd/A at 50 mA/cm², which are 68% and 62% higher, respectively, than those of the minimum values found in the device with MoO₃ HTL. Fixing the hole transport material TAPC, the replacement of TPBi ETL with Bphen ETL can further improve the performance of the device, in which the maximum luminance can reach 3640 cd/m² at 50 mA/cm², which is 23% higher than that of the TPBi device. Furthermore, the lifetime of the device is also optimized by the change of ETL. These results indicate that the carrier mobility of transport materials and energy level alignment of different functional layers play important roles in the performance of the blue OLEDs. The findings suggest that selecting well-matched electron and hole transport materials is essential and beneficial for the device engineering of high-efficiency blue OLEDs.

Fluoro- and Amino-Functionalized Conjugated Polymers as Electron Transport Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells with Improved Efficiency and Stability

We report here novel bifunctionalized electron transport materials (ETMs) that can improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) simultaneously. By functionalizing n-type conjugated polymers with fluoro and amino side chains, PN, PN-F25%, and PN-F50% with varied contents of fluoro and amino side chains are prepared. It is found that the amino side chains in ETMs efficiently improve the interface contact and electron collection of PVSCs, with improved power conversion efficiency from 14.0% for PC₆₁BM-based devices to more than 17% for PN- and PN-F25%-based devices. Moreover, the fluoro side chains endow these polymers with excellent hydrophobic properties, which largely enhance their water-resistance capabilities. ETMs with the increased content of fluoro side chains can substantially improve the water resistance of perovskite layers, with a significant improvement in the stability of PVSCs. Our results indicate that the fluoro- and amino-bifunctionalized strategy is a promising method to design ETMs for high-performance and stable PVSCs.

Stable and Efficient Organo-Metal Halide Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells via π-Conjugated Lewis Base Polymer Induced Trap Passivation and Charge Extraction

High-quality pinhole-free perovskite film with optimal crystalline morphology is critical for achieving high-efficiency and high-stability perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, a p-type π-conjugated polymer poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl) thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b'] dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1',3'-di-2-thienyl-5',7'-bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzo[1',2'-c:4',5'-c'] dithiophene-4,8-dione))] (PBDB-T) is introduced into chlorobenzene to form a facile and effective template-agent during the anti-solvent process of perovskite film formation. The π-conjugated polymer PBDB-T is found to trigger a heterogeneous nucleation over the perovskite precursor film and passivate the trap states of the mixed perovskite film through the formation of Lewis adducts between lead and oxygen atom in PBDB-T. The p-type semiconducting and hydrophobic PBDB-T polymer fills in the perovskite grain boundaries to improve charge transfer for better conductivity and prevent moisture invasion into the perovskite active layers. Consequently, the PSCs with PBDB-T modified anti-solvent processing leads to a high-efficiency close to 20%, and the devices show excellent stability, retaining about 90% of the initial power conversion efficiency after 150 d storage in dry air.

UV-Sintered Low-Temperature Solution-Processed SnO2 as Robust Electron Transport Layer for Efficient Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells

Recently, low temperature solution-processed tin oxide (SnO₂) as a versatile electron transport layer (ETL) for efficient and robust planar heterojunction (PH) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has attracted particular attention due to its outstanding properties such as high optical transparency, high electron mobility, and suitable band alignment. However, for most of the reported works, an annealing temperature of 180 °C is generally required. This temperature is reluctantly considered to be a low temperature, especially with respect to the flexible application where 180 °C is still too high for the polyethylene terephthalate flexible substrate to bear. In this contribution, low temperature (about 70 °C) UV/ozone treatment was applied to in situ synthesis of SnO₂ films deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate as ETL. This method is a facile photochemical treatment which is simple to operate and can easily eliminate the organic components. Accordingly, PH PSCs with UV-sintered SnO₂ films as ETL were successfully fabricated for the first time. The device exhibited excellent photovoltaic performance as high as 16.21%, which is even higher than the value (11.49%) reported for a counterpart device with solution-processed and high temperature annealed SnO₂ films as ETL. These low temperature solution-processed and UV-sintered SnO₂ films are suitable for the low-cost, large yield solution process on a flexible substrate for optoelectronic devices.