Issue 48, 2014

Solution processed and self-assembled polymerizable fullerenes/metal oxide as an interlayer for high efficient inverted polymer solar cells

Abstract

A novel polymerizable fullerene derivative, 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl undec-10-enyl malonate C60 (EEMC), functionalized with ethenyl and tri-(ethylene oxide) (TEO), has been rationally designed and synthesized. The functionalized fullerene can easily self-assemble on the surface of ZnO to form an immobilized and robust fullerene/ZnO electron-transporting layer (ETL) for the inverted solar cells. Additionally, the solution processed and assembled fullerene/ZnO ETL can be further stabilized by a polymerized network resulting from ethenyl groups undergoing subsequent thermal annealing. The oxygen groups of TEO anchoring on ZnO effectively passivate the surface traps of ZnO and induce a smoother and more hydrophobic surface. Moreover, the polymerized EEMC (PEEMC) also promotes a better matched energy level and more intimate interfacial contact and improves active layer morphology compared to the bare ZnO. As a result, the performance of the inverted solar cell device is improved by incorporation of such novel ETL. Furthermore, methanol treatment on the PEEMC (MT-PEEMC) is found to better optimize the device performance. The device based on a blend of a low band-gap polymer thieno[3,4-b]thiophene/benzodithiophene (PTB7) with [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) delivers a high efficiency of 7.5%. Note that a solution-processed solar cell with MT-PEEMC as ETL and a sol–gel derived VOx as holes transfer layer (HTL) achieves a PCE of 7.3%. In addition, the self-assembled and polymerized interlayer also improves the durability of device lifetime.

Graphical abstract: Solution processed and self-assembled polymerizable fullerenes/metal oxide as an interlayer for high efficient inverted polymer solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Aug 2014
Accepted
06 Oct 2014
First published
08 Oct 2014

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 10282-10290

Author version available

Solution processed and self-assembled polymerizable fullerenes/metal oxide as an interlayer for high efficient inverted polymer solar cells

L. Hu, L. Chen, X. Hu and Y. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014, 2, 10282 DOI: 10.1039/C4TC01747A

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