Issue 14, 2016

Roll to roll compatible fabrication of inverted organic solar cells with a self-organized charge selective cathode interfacial layer

Abstract

We successfully demonstrate a simple approach to printing efficient, inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) with a self-organized charge selective cathode interface layer based on the small-molecule Phen-NaDPO. Different from previous studies, Phen-NaDPO molecules were blended into a polymer/fullerene blend, comprising a low bandgap diketopyrrolopyrrole–quinquethiophene alternating copolymer pDPP5T-2 and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM), and processed by doctor blading in air. We observed a spontaneous, surface energy driven migration of Phen-NaDPO towards the ZnO interface and a subsequent formation of electron selective and barrier free extraction contacts. In the presence of 0.5 wt% Phen-NaDPO, a PCE of 5.4% was achieved for the inverted device based on an ITO/ZnO cathode. Notably, the photovoltaic performances remained at the same level with increasing the Phen-NaDPO concentration in the active layer from 0.25 to 1 wt%. Furthermore, this approach could be proven to effectively work with other cathodes such as bare ITO and ITO/AZO. The self-organization of Phen-NaDPO through spontaneous vertical phase separation is mainly attributed to its high surface energy and strong interaction with the cathode material. The present results highlight that a self-organized cathode interfacial material processed from a “ternary” active layer is fully compatible with the requirements for roll-to-roll fabrication of inverted organic solar cells.

Graphical abstract: Roll to roll compatible fabrication of inverted organic solar cells with a self-organized charge selective cathode interfacial layer

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
22 Sun 2016
Accepted
02 Kul 2016
First published
03 Kul 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 5032-5038

Roll to roll compatible fabrication of inverted organic solar cells with a self-organized charge selective cathode interfacial layer

H. Zhang, W. Tan, S. Fladischer, L. Ke, T. Ameri, N. Li, M. Turbiez, E. Spiecker, X. Zhu, Y. Cao and C. J. Brabec, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 5032 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA00391E

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