Issue 21, 2016

Trifluoromethyl-functionalized bathocuproine for polymer solar cells

Abstract

A novel bathocuproine (BCP) derivative 4,7-bis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP-2CF3) was synthesized and investigated as a candidate for exciton blocking layers (EBLs) in organic solar cells. The impacts of BCP-2CF3 and BCP on the performance of photovoltaic devices were studied for bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) devices with a blend of poly[N-9′′-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) and [6,6]phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM). In comparison with BCP, BCP-2CF3 showed a comparable improvement in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) (ca. 39%), and moreover a better thermal stability. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices with BCP-2CF3 withstood an annealing temperature as high as 100 °C, while those with BCP revealed a loss about 90% of the original efficiency at the same temperature. The newly designed principle for BCP-derived EBL materials opens a window for systematic enhancement of the efficiency and especially durability of organic solar cells.

Graphical abstract: Trifluoromethyl-functionalized bathocuproine for polymer solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Feb 2016
Accepted
02 May 2016
First published
04 May 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 4640-4646

Trifluoromethyl-functionalized bathocuproine for polymer solar cells

Y. Zhao, M. G. Schwab, A. Kiersnowski, W. Pisula, M. Baumgarten, L. Chen, K. Müllen and C. Li, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 4640 DOI: 10.1039/C6TC00780E

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