Varying Anionic Functional Group Density in Sulfonate-Functionalized Polyfluorenes by a One-Phase Suzuki Polycondensation

Increasing Stability of SnO2-Based Perovskite Solar Cells by Introducing an Anionic Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Interfacial Adjustment

Despite the fact that power conversion efficiency (PCE) has been greatly improved in recent years, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) need to overcome some challenges, like stability, for the commercial application. Herein, an anionic conjugated polyelectrolyte, sulfonic-containing polyfluorene (abbreviated to SPF), has been developed to modify the interface between the electron-transporting layer (ETL) SnO₂ and the optoelectronic active layer MAPbI₃ in the n-i-p cells. After 40 days of storage in atmospheric environment in the dark with exposure to a controlled humidity of about 10%, PCE of the SPF-modified cells with the structure of ITO/SnO₂/SPF/MAPbI₃/spiro-OMeTAD/Au still remained 94% of the initial value. In contrast, the control cell without SPF only remained 31.1% of its initial efficiency after 29 days. The main reason for the stability enhancement is the adjustment of interfacial energy level, the crystallinity enhancement, and the removal of the interfacial defect of the perovskite layer by introducing the hydrophobic and smooth SPF interfacial layer. Deep electrical study on the PSCs discloses that the cell has low carrier transfer resistance, low leakage current density, and minor interfacial charge accumulation. What's more, the short-circuit current density is improved, and PCE of 20.47% is achieved.

Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells

Conjugated polymers with ionic pendant groups (CPEs) are receiving increasing attention as solution-processed interfacial materials for organic solar cells (OSCs). Various anionic CPEs have been successfully used, on top of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrodes, as solution-processed anode interlayers (AILs) for conventional devices with direct geometry. However, the development of CPE AILs for OSC devices with inverted geometry is an important topic that still needs to be addressed. Here, we have designed three anionic CPEs bearing alkyl-potassium-sulfonate side chains. Their functional behavior as anode interlayers has been investigated in P3HT:PC₆₁BM (poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) devices with an inverted geometry, using a hole collecting silver electrode evaporated on top. Our results reveal that to obtain effective anode modification, the CPEs' conjugated backbone has to be tailored to grant self-doping and to have a good energy-level match with the photoactive layer. Furthermore, the sulfonate moieties not only ensure the solubility in polar orthogonal solvents, induce self-doping via a right choice of the conjugated backbone, but also play a role in the gaining of hole selectivity of the top silver electrode.

Effect of side-chain halogenation on the interactions of conjugated polymers with SWNTs

Halogenation of polyfluorene side-chain ends with bromine or iodine causes significant differences in the nanotube species that are dispersed in solvent, indicating that subtle changes in polymer structure can affect polymer-nanotube interactions.

Electrical properties of doped conjugated polyelectrolytes with modulated density of the ionic functionalities

We report the synthesis of a series of water soluble anionic narrow band-gap conjugated polyelectrolytes with a varied density of the ionic functional groups.