Direct Correlation of Charge Transfer Absorption with Molecular Donor:Acceptor Interfacial Area via Photothermal Deflection Spectroscopy

BiVO4 Photoanode with NiV2O6 Back Contact Interfacial Layer for Improved Hole-Diffusion Length and Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Activity

The short hole diffusion length (HDL) and high interfacial recombination are among the main drawbacks of semiconductor-based solar energy systems. Surface passivation and introducing an interfacial layer are recognized for enhancing HDL and charge carrier separation. Herein, we introduced a facile recipe to design a pinholes-free BiVO4 photoanode with a NiV2O6 back contact interfacial (BCI) layer, marking a significant advancement in the HDL and photoelectrochemical activity. The fabricated BiVO4 photoanode with NiV2O6 BCI layer exhibits a 2-fold increase in the HDL compared to pristine BiVO4. Despite this improvement, we found that the front surface recombination still hinders the water oxidation process, as revealed by photoelectrochemical (PEC) studies employing Na2SO3 electron donors and by intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy measurements. To address this limitation, the surface of the NiV2O6/BiVO4 photoanode was passivated with a cobalt phosphate electrocatalyst, resulting in a dramatic enhancement in the PEC performance. The optimized photoanode achieved a stable photocurrent density of 4.8 mA cm-2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is 12-fold higher than that of the pristine BiVO4 photoanode. Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations revealed an abrupt electrostatic potential transition at the NiV2O6/BiVO4 interface with BiVO4 being more negative than NiV2O6. A strong built-in electric field is thus generated at the interface and drifts photogenerated electrons toward the NiV2O6 BCI layer and photogenerated holes toward the BiVO4 top layer. As a result, the back-surface recombination is minimized, and ultimately, the HDL is extended in agreement with the experimental findings.

Short and long-range electron transfer compete to determine free-charge yield in organic semiconductors

Understanding how Frenkel excitons efficiently split to form free-charges in low-dielectric constant organic semiconductors has proven challenging, with many different models proposed in recent years to explain this phenomenon. Here, we present evidence that a simple model invoking a modest amount of charge delocalization, a sum over the available microstates, and the Marcus rate constant for electron transfer can explain many seemingly contradictory phenomena reported in the literature. We use an electron-accepting fullerene host matrix dilutely sensitized with a series of electron donor molecules to test this hypothesis. The donor series enables us to tune the driving force for photoinduced electron transfer over a range of 0.7 eV, mapping out normal, optimal, and inverted regimes for free-charge generation efficiency, as measured by time-resolved microwave conductivity. However, the photoluminescence of the donor is rapidly quenched as the driving force increases, with no evidence for inverted behavior, nor the linear relationship between photoluminescence quenching and charge-generation efficiency one would expect in the absence of additional competing loss pathways. This behavior is self-consistently explained by competitive formation of bound charge-transfer states and long-range or delocalized free-charge states, where both rate constants are described by the Marcus rate equation. Moreover, the model predicts a suppression of the inverted regime for high-concentration blends and efficient ultrafast free-charge generation, providing a mechanistic explanation for why Marcus-inverted-behavior is rarely observed in device studies.

A universal Urbach rule for disordered organic semiconductors

In crystalline semiconductors, absorption onset sharpness is characterized by temperature-dependent Urbach energies. These energies quantify the static, structural disorder causing localized exponential-tail states, and dynamic disorder from electron-phonon scattering. Applicability of this exponential-tail model to disordered solids has been long debated. Nonetheless, exponential fittings are routinely applied to sub-gap absorption analysis of organic semiconductors. Herein, we elucidate the sub-gap spectral line-shapes of organic semiconductors and their blends by temperature-dependent quantum efficiency measurements. We find that sub-gap absorption due to singlet excitons is universally dominated by thermal broadening at low photon energies and the associated Urbach energy equals the thermal energy, regardless of static disorder. This is consistent with absorptions obtained from a convolution of Gaussian density of excitonic states weighted by Boltzmann-like thermally activated optical transitions. A simple model is presented that explains absorption line-shapes of disordered systems, and we also provide a strategy to determine the excitonic disorder energy. Our findings elaborate the meaning of the Urbach energy in molecular solids and relate the photo-physics to static disorder, crucial for optimizing organic solar cells for which we present a revisited radiative open-circuit voltage limit.

Carotenoid Nuclear Reorganization and Interplay of Bright and Dark Excited States

We report quantum chemical calculations using multireference perturbation theory (MRPT) with the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) plus photothermal deflection spectroscopy measurements to investigate the manifold of carotenoid excited states and establish their energies relative to the bright state (S₂) as a function of nuclear reorganization. We conclude that the primary photophysics and function of carotenoids are determined by interplay of only the bright (S₂) and lowest-energy dark (S₁) states. The lowest-lying dark state, far from being energetically distinguishable from the lowest-lying bright state along the entire excited-state nuclear reorganization pathway, is instead computed to be either the second or first excited state depending on what equilibrium geometry is considered. This result suggests that, rather than there being a dark intermediate excited state bridging a non-negligible energy gap from the lowest-lying dark state to the lowest-lying bright state, there is in fact no appreciable energy gap to bridge following photoexcitation. Instead, excited-state nuclear reorganization constitutes the bridge from S₂ to S₁, in the sense that these two states attain energetic degeneracy along this pathway.

Comprehensive Investigation and Analysis of Bulk-Heterojunction Microstructure of High-Performance PCE11:PCBM Solar Cells

Worldwide research efforts have been devoted to organic photovoltaics in the hope of a large-scale commercial application in the near future. To meet the industrial production requirements, organic photovoltaics that can reach power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 10% along with promising operational device stability are of utmost interest. In the study, we take PCE11:PCBM as a model system, which can achieve over 11% PCE when processed from nonhalogen solvents, to deeply investigate the morphology-performance-stability correlation. We demonstrate that four batches of PCE11 with varying crystalline properties can achieve similar high performance in combination with PCBM. Careful device optimization is necessary in each case to properly address the requirements for the quite distinct microstructures. The bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) microstructure is comprehensively investigated as a function of the macromolecular weight and crystallinity. It is demonstrated that small differences in morphology significantly affect the kinetics and thermodynamic equilibrium of the BHJ microstructure as well as the photostability and thermal stability of the PCE11:PCBM solar cells.

Probing charge transfer states at organic and hybrid internal interfaces by photothermal deflection spectroscopy

In organic and hybrid photovoltaic devices, the asymmetry required for charge separation necessitates the use of a donor and an acceptor material, resulting in the formation of internal interfaces in the device active layer. While the core objective of these interfaces is to facilitate charge separation, bound states between electrons and holes may form across them, resulting in a loss mechanism that diminishes the performance of the solar cells. These interfacial transitions appear in organic systems as charge transfer (CT) states and as bound charge pairs (BCP) in hybrid systems. Despite being similar, the latter are far less investigated. Herein, we employ photothermal deflection spectroscopy and pump-push-probe experiments in order to determine the characteristics and dynamics of interfacial states in two model systems: an organic P3HT:PCBM and hybrid P3HT:ZnO photovoltaic layer. By controlling the area of the internal interface, we identify CT states between 1.4 eV and 1.8 eV in the organic bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) and BCP between 1.1 eV and 1.4 eV in the hybrid BHJ. The energetic distribution of these states suggests that they not only contribute to losses in photocurrent, but also significantly limit the possible maximum open circuit voltage obtainable from these devices.

Assessing the nature of the charge-transfer electronic states in organic solar cells

The charge-transfer electronic states appearing at the donor-acceptor interfaces in organic solar cells mediate exciton dissociation, charge generation, and charge recombination. To date, the characterization of their nature has been carried out on the basis of models that only involve the charge-transfer state and the ground state. Here, we demonstrate that it is essential to go beyond such a two-state model and to consider explicitly as well the electronic and vibrational couplings with the local absorbing state on the donor and/or acceptor. We have thus developed a three-state vibronic model that allows us: to provide a reliable description of the optical absorption features related to the charge-transfer states; to underline the erroneous interpretations stemming from the application of the semi-classical two-state model; and to rationalize how the hybridization between the local-excitation state and charge-transfer state can lead to lower non-radiative voltage losses and higher power conversion efficiencies.

Previous descriptions of the charge-transfer absorptions in organic solar cells only involve the charge transfer state and the ground state. Here Chen et al. underline that a third state, i.e., the local absorbing state on the donor and/or acceptor, needs to be considered.

Insights into photovoltaic properties of ternary organic solar cells from phase diagrams

The efficiency of ternary organic solar cells relies on the spontaneous establishment of a nanostructured network of donor and acceptor phases during film formation. A fundamental understanding of phase composition and arrangement and correlations to photovoltaic device parameters is of utmost relevance for both science and technology. We demonstrate a general approach to understanding solar cell behavior from simple thermodynamic principles. For two ternary blend systems we construct and model phase diagrams. Details of EQE and solar cell parameters can be understood from the phase behavior. Our blend system is composed of PC₇₀BM, PBDTTT-C and a near-infrared absorbing cyanine dye. Cyanine dyes are accompanied by counterions, which, in a first approximation, do not change the photophysical properties of the dye, but strongly influence the morphology of the ternary blend. We argue that counterion dissociation is responsible for different mixing behavior. For the dye with a hexafluorophosphate counterion a hierarchical morphology develops, the dye phase separates on a large scale from PC₇₀BM and cannot contribute to photocurrent. Differently, a cyanine dye with a TRISPHAT counterion shows partial miscibility with PC₇₀BM. A large two-phase region dictated by the PC₇₀BM: PBDTTT-C mixture is present and the dye greatly contributes to the short-circuit current.

Polymer:Fullerene Bimolecular Crystals for Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Photodetectors

Spectroscopic photodetection is a powerful tool in disciplines such as medical diagnosis, industrial process monitoring, or agriculture. However, its application in novel fields, including wearable and biointegrated electronics, is hampered by the use of bulky dispersive optics. Here, solution-processed organic donor-acceptor blends are employed in a resonant optical cavity device architecture for wavelength-tunable photodetection. While conventional photodetectors respond to above-gap excitation, the cavity device exploits weak subgap absorption of intermolecular charge-transfer states of the intercalating poly[2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (PBTTT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bimolecular crystal. This enables a highly wavelength selective, near-infrared photoresponse with a spectral resolution down to 14 nm, as well as dark currents and detectivities comparable with commercial inorganic photodetectors. Based on this concept, a miniaturized spectrophotometer, comprising an array of narrowband cavity photodetectors, is fabricated by using a blade-coated PBTTT:PCBM thin film with a thickness gradient. As an application example, a measurement of the transmittance spectrum of water by this device is demonstrated.

Organic narrowband near-infrared photodetectors based on intermolecular charge-transfer absorption

Blending organic electron donors and acceptors yields intermolecular charge-transfer states with additional optical transitions below their optical gaps. In organic photovoltaic devices, such states play a crucial role and limit the operating voltage. Due to its extremely weak nature, direct intermolecular charge-transfer absorption often remains undetected and unused for photocurrent generation. Here, we use an optical microcavity to increase the typically negligible external quantum efficiency in the spectral region of charge-transfer absorption by more than 40 times, yielding values over 20%. We demonstrate narrowband detection with spectral widths down to 36 nm and resonance wavelengths between 810 and 1,550 nm, far below the optical gap of both donor and acceptor. The broad spectral tunability via a simple variation of the cavity thickness makes this innovative, flexible and potentially visibly transparent device principle highly suitable for integrated low-cost spectroscopic near-infrared photodetection.

Interfaces of organic donor-acceptor blends provide intermolecular charge-transfer states with red-shifted but weak absorption. By introducing an optical micro-cavity; Siegmund et al., enhance their photoresponse to achieve narrowband NIR photodetection with broad spectral tunability.

High operational and environmental stability of high-mobility conjugated polymer field-effect transistors through the use of molecular additives

Due to their low-temperature processing properties and inherent mechanical flexibility, conjugated polymer field-effect transistors (FETs) are promising candidates for enabling flexible electronic circuits and displays. Much progress has been made on materials performance; however, there remain significant concerns about operational and environmental stability, particularly in the context of applications that require a very high level of threshold voltage stability, such as active-matrix addressing of organic light-emitting diode displays. Here, we investigate the physical mechanisms behind operational and environmental degradation of high-mobility, p-type polymer FETs and demonstrate an effective route to improve device stability. We show that water incorporated in nanometre-sized voids within the polymer microstructure is the key factor in charge trapping and device degradation. By inserting molecular additives that displace water from these voids, it is possible to increase the stability as well as uniformity to a high level sufficient for demanding industrial applications.

The fate of electron-hole pairs in polymer:fullerene blends for organic photovoltaics

There has been long-standing debate on how free charges are generated in donor:acceptor blends that are used in organic solar cells, and which are generally comprised of a complex phase morphology, where intermixed and neat phases of the donor and acceptor material co-exist. Here we resolve this question, basing our conclusions on Stark effect spectroscopy data obtained in the absence and presence of externally applied electric fields. Reconciling opposing views found in literature, we unambiguously demonstrate that the fate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs—whether they will dissociate to free charges or geminately recombine—is determined at ultrafast times, despite the fact that their actual spatial separation can be much slower. Our insights are important to further develop rational approaches towards material design and processing of organic solar cells, assisting to realize their purported promise as lead-free, third-generation energy technology that can reach efficiencies over 10%.

Charge generation and transport are crucial to the performance of organic solar cells, but the mechanism remains controversial. Causa' et al. show that the phase morphology of polymer:fullerene blends determines the exciton dissociation at femtoseconds, although the spatial separation can occur at picoseconds.

Polarization Energies at Organic-Organic Interfaces: Impact on the Charge Separation Barrier at Donor-Acceptor Interfaces in Organic Solar Cells

We probe the energetic landscape at a model pentacene/fullerene (C60) interface to investigate the interactions between positive and negative charges, which are critical to the processes of charge separation and recombination in organic solar cells. Using a polarizable force field, we find that polarization energy, i.e., the stabilization a charge feels due to its environment, is larger at the interface than in the bulk for both a positive and a negative charge. The combination of the charge being more stabilized at the interface and the Coulomb attraction between the charges results in a barrier to charge separation at the pentacene/C60 interface that can be in excess of 0.7 eV for static configurations of the donor and acceptor locations. However, the impact of molecular motions, i.e., the dynamics, at the interface at room temperature results in a distribution of polarization energies and in charge separation barriers that can be significantly reduced. The dynamic nature of the interface is thus critical, with the polarization energy distributions indicating that sites along the interface shift in time between favorable and unfavorable configurations for charge separation.

Quasi first-order Hermite Gaussian beam for enhanced sensitivity in Sagnac interferometer photothermal deflection spectroscopy

The detection sensitivity of a Sagnac interferometer photothermal deflection spectroscopy was enhanced by changing the probe beam pattern from zero-order to a quasi-first-order Hermite Gaussian (QHG) beam. The nature of the higher order HG mode, where the beam pattern is preserved during propagation with an increased field gradient, is utilized to enhance the measurement sensitivity. In this spectroscopy, the lateral beam deflection due to the photothermal effect is sensitively detected as a change in the interference light intensity. The change in intensity is amplified due to the higher field gradient of the QHG(1,0) beam at the photodetector. This amplification effect was both numerically and experimentally demonstrated to obtain twofold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio.