Correlating highpower conversion efficiency of PTB7:PC71BM inverted organic solar cells with nanoscale structures [Unraveling the correlation between the structural aspects and power conversion efficiency in PTB7:PC71BM inverted organic solar cells]

Das, Sanjib; Browning, Jim; Gu, Gong; Yang, Bin; Do, Changwoo; Chen, Wei; Chen, Jihua; Ivanov, Ilia N; Hong, Kunlun; Rondinone, Adam J.; Joshi, Pooran C.; Geohegan, David B.; Xiao, Kai; Keum, Jong K.

doi:10.1039/c5nr03332b

Title: Correlating highpower conversion efficiency of PTB7:PC₇₁BM inverted organic solar cells with nanoscale structures [Unraveling the correlation between the structural aspects and power conversion efficiency in PTB7:PC₇₁BM inverted organic solar cells]

Journal Article · Thu Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Nanoscale

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c5nr03332b· OSTI ID:1222555

Das, Sanjib ^[1]; Browning, Jim ^[2]; Gu, Gong ^[1]; Yang, Bin ^[2]; Do, Changwoo ^[1]; Chen, Wei ^[3]; Chen, Jihua ^[2]; Ivanov, Ilia N ^[2]; Hong, Kunlun ^[2]; Rondinone, Adam J. ^[2]; Joshi, Pooran C. ^[2]; Geohegan, David B. ^[2]; Xiao, Kai ^[2]; Keum, Jong K. ^[2]

Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Advances in materials design and device engineering led to inverted organic solar cells (i-OSCs) with superior power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) to their conventional counterparts, in addition to the well-known better ambient stability. Despite the significant progress, however, it has so far been unclear how the morphologies of the photoactive layer and its interface with the cathode modifying layer impact device performance. Here, we report an in-depth morphology study of the i-OSC active and cathode modifying layers, employing a model system with the well-established bulk-heterojunction, PTB7:PC₇₁BM as the active layer and poly-[(9,9-bis(3 -(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) as the cathode surface modifying layer. We have also identified the role of a processing additive, 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO), used in the spin-casting of the active layer to increase PCE. Using a variety of characterization techniques, we demonstrate that the high PCEs of i-OSCs are due to the smearing (diffusion) of electron-accepting PC₇₁BM into the PFN layer, resulting in improved electron transport. The PC₇₁BM diffusion occurs after spin-casting the active layer onto the PFN layer, when residual solvent molecules act as a plasticizer. Furthermore, the DIO additive, with a higher boiling point than the host solvent, has a longer residence time in the spin-cast active layer, resulting in more PC₇₁BM smearing and therefore more efficient electron transport. This work provides important insight and guidance to further enhancement of i-OSC performance by materials and interface engineering.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Spallation Neutron Source (SNS); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1222555

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1352519

Journal Information:: Nanoscale, Vol. 7, Issue 38; ISSN 2040-3364

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 49 works

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Title: Correlating highpower conversion efficiency of PTB7:PC71BM inverted organic solar cells with nanoscale structures [Unraveling the correlation between the structural aspects and power conversion efficiency in PTB7:PC71BM inverted organic solar cells]

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Title: Correlating highpower conversion efficiency of PTB7:PC₇₁BM inverted organic solar cells with nanoscale structures [Unraveling the correlation between the structural aspects and power conversion efficiency in PTB7:PC₇₁BM inverted organic solar cells]