Broadband charge transfer dynamics in P3HT:PCBM blended film

Revealing the Role of Dynamic and Static Disorder on Charge-Transfer-State Absorption in Polymer Solar Cells

In polymer solar cells (PSCs), charge-transfer (CT) state absorption plays an important role in evaluating the CT-state energy and energy loss. However, due to the disordered nature of polymers, a comprehensive understanding of CT absorption properties remains elusive. Especially, the dominant role of dynamic and static disorder in determining CT absorption is frequently debated. Herein, we theoretically constructed an organic donor-acceptor model to investigate the impact of these two types of disorders on CT absorption properties. It is demonstrated that the CT absorption properties depend significantly on the type of disorder. Specifically, it is found that dynamic disorder has a more significant impact on the peak and position of CT absorption as well as the broadening properties, compared to static disorder. The study indicates that minimizing dynamic disorder can lead to a reduction in overall disorder, which is beneficial for improving the performance of PSCs.

Improving the photovoltaic performance of inverted perovskite solar cells via manipulating the molecular packing structure of PCBM

In this study, the molecular packing structure of solution-processed phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) thin film was manipulated by varying the volume ratio of chlorobenzene (CB) to bromobenzene (BrB) from 100:0 to 50:50, which largely influences the device performance of the PCBM/perovskite heterojunction solar cells. Absorbance spectra, photoluminescence spectra, atomic force microscopic images and contact angle images were used to investigate the molecular packing structure effects of the PCBM thin films on the device performance of the inverted perovskite solar cells. Our experimental results show that the formation of PCBM aggregates and the contact quality at the PCBM/perovksite interface significantly influence the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density and fill factor of the resultant solar cells simultaneously. It is noted that the PCE of the encapsulated inverted CH₃NH₃PbI₃(MAPbI₃) solar cells exhibited a stable and high power conversion efficiency of 18%.

Sub-bandgap photoexcited dynamics at an organic donor/acceptor photovoltaic interface

Although sub-bandgap light absorption signals in organic donor/acceptor (D/A) photovoltaic systems have been studied extensively, the underlying origins, as well as the impacting factors, are still elusive. By theoretically constructing an organic D/A interface under a femtosecond electric pulse pumping, we obtain an insightful understanding of this issue. First, a careful comparison between the absorption spectra of the D/A interface and the individual donor (acceptor) demonstrates the existence of two weak absorption signals below the donor (acceptor) optical gap. Furthermore, we clarify that the lower-energy signal originates from "cold" charge transfer (CT) absorption, while the higher-energy signal is from "hot" CT absorption. Finally, effects of several key factors, such as the interface structure and the photoexciting condition, on CT absorptions are discussed. These findings should be of vital importance both to understand the sub-bandgap excited states and to recognize their roles in organic photovoltaic devices.

Bright and fast-response perovskite light-emitting diodes with an ICBA:modified-C60 nanocomposite electrical confinement layer

Bright and fast-response CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are realized by using ICBA:modified C₆₀ (MC₆₀) nanocomposites as the hole blocking layer (HBL) and electron transport layer (ETL). The photoluminescence spectrum shows that the use of hydrophilic MC₆₀ in the ETL helps the surface passivation of the perovskite layer. In addition, the photoelectron spectra and water-droplet contact angle images show that the use of the ICBA:MC₆₀ nanocomposite ETL can simultaneously confine the electrons and holes in the perovskite layer, which boosts the injected electron-hole radiative recombination efficiency and thereby increases the electroluminescence from 1 cd m^-2 to 2080 cd m^-2 at 6 V when the ICBA:3,5OEC₆₀ nanocomposite ETL is used. In addition, the operational frequency of the optimal PeLED is up to 1.5 MHz.

The Way to Pursue Truly High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single-junction solar cells was theoretically predicted to be limited by the Shockley–Queisser limit due to the intrinsic potential loss of the photo-excited electrons in the light absorbing materials. Up to now, the optimized GaAs solar cell has the highest PCE of 29.1%, which is close to the theoretical limit of ~33%. To pursue the perfect photovoltaic performance, it is necessary to extend the lifetimes of the photo-excited carriers (hot electrons and hot holes) and to collect the hot carriers without potential loss. Thanks to the long-lived hot carriers in perovskite crystal materials, it is possible to completely convert the photon energy to electrical power when the hot electrons and hot holes can freely transport in the quantized energy levels of the electron transport layer and hole transport layer, respectively. In order to achieve the ideal PCE, the interactions between photo-excited carriers and phonons in perovskite solar cells has to be completely understood.

New Polymer Systems for Use in Organic Photovoltaics

In this paper, new polymers for use in organic photovoltaics were investigated. PPBI, PNBI and copolymer MULT are considered as a potential alternative or an effective dopant for P3HT and PCBM. The choice of these materials allows us to find out new information on the prospects and properties of heterocyclic polymers — for thermal stability and resistance to the environment for organic solar cells. The levels of HOMO and LUMO of new heterocyclic polymers were measured, and the results were compared with those of P3HT: PCBM. The level of new polymer MULT photoluminescence was determined. The absorption blend for P3HT: PCBM peak absorption shift was detected by adding 5% (by mass) of the new polymer MULT, the value of 30–40[Formula: see text]nm to longer wavelengths. Data obtained by cyclic voltammetry showed deep HOMO levels of heterocyclic polymers in values of about [Formula: see text]6[Formula: see text]eV, which is promising in terms of acceptor properties.

A perovskite cell with a record-high-V(oc) of 1.61 V based on solvent annealed CH3NH3PbBr3/ICBA active layer

A high open-circuit voltage inverted perovskite solar cell based on a CH3NH3PbBr3 absorber and ICBA acceptor is reported. The CH3NH3PbBr3 film fabricated under ambient atmosphere at a moderate temperature (∼100 °C) using a two-step spin-coating method is composed of aggregated nano-grains. Upon solvent annealing of the CH3NH3PbBr3/ICBA film, the efficiency of the resulting cell increases from 1.71% to 7.50% with a remarkably high open circuit voltage (Voc) of ca. 1.60 V. ICBA acts not only as a high LUMO acceptor to realize high Voc but also as a mending agent to increase the efficiency of the cell by penetrating into the defects/voids of the CH3NH3PbBr3 film via solvent annealing as evidenced by TRPL, XPS and SEM data. Solvent annealing of the active layer was proved to be simple and effective device engineering to improve the efficiency of the perovskite cell based on a low quality film and the Voc of the inverted perovskite cell can be tuned by the LUMO level of the acceptor were revealed. The CH3NH3PbBr3/ICBA film is semi-transparent with an average 50% transmittance under visible light. The moderatetemperature processed CH3NH3PbBr3 solar cell with high Voc and a semi-transparent absorber has great potential for application as the top cell in a tandem solar cell.

Metal-free tetrathienoacene sensitizers for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells

A new series of metal-free organic chromophores (TPA-TTAR-A (1), TPA-T-TTAR-A (2), TPA-TTAR-T-A (3), and TPA-T-TTAR-T-A (4)) are synthesized for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on a donor-π-bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) design. Here a simple triphenylamine (TPA) moiety serves as the electron donor, a cyanoacrylic acid as the electron acceptor and anchoring group, and a novel tetrathienoacene (TTA) as the π-bridge unit. Because of the extensively conjugated TTA π-bridge, these dyes exhibit high extinction coefficients (4.5-5.2 × 10(4) M(-1) cm(-1)). By strategically inserting a thiophene spacer on the donor or acceptor side of the molecules, the electronic structures of these TTA-based dyes can be readily tuned. Furthermore, addition of a thiophene spacer has a significant influence on the dye orientation and self-assembly modality on TiO2 surfaces. The insertion of a thiophene between the π-bridge and the cyanoacrylic acid anchoring group in TPA-TTAR-T-A (dye 3) promotes more vertical dye orientation and denser packing on TiO2 (molecular footprint = 79 Å(2)), thus enabling optimal dye loading. Using dye 3, a DSSC power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.1% with Voc = 0.833 V, Jsc = 16.5 mA/cm(2), and FF = 70.0% is achieved, among the highest reported to date for metal-free organic DSSC sensitizers using an I(-)/I3(-) redox shuttle. Photophysical measurements on dye-grafted TiO2 films reveal that the additional thiophene unit in dye 3 enhances the electron injection efficiency, in agreement with the high quantum efficiency.

An investigation of organic photovoltaics improvement via extension of the exciton lifetime

Doping the phosphorescent material, Ir(ppz)₃, in a P3HT:ICBA film successfully enhances theJ_SCviaextension of the exciton lifetime.