Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

Jiaqi Zhang; Jorge C.D. Faria; Maurizio Morbidoni; Yoann Porte; Claire H. Burgess; Khallil Harrabi; Martyn A. McLachlan

doi:10.1002/aelm.201600008

Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

Jiaqi Zhang, Jorge C.D. Faria, Maurizio Morbidoni, Yoann Porte, Claire H. Burgess, Khallil Harrabi, Martyn A. McLachlan^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Processing temperature is highlighted as a convenient means of controlling the optical and charge transport properties of solution processed electron transport layers (ETLs) in inverted polymer solar cells. Using the well-studied active layer – poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):indene-C₆₀ bisadduct – the influence of ETL processing temperatures from 25 to 450 °C is shown, reporting the role of crystallinity, structure, charge transport, and Fermi level (E_F) on numerous device performance characteristics. It has been determined that an exceptionally low temperature processed ETL (110 °C) increases device power conversion efficiency by a factor greater than 50% compared with a high temperature (450 °C) processed ETL. Modulations in device series and shunt resistance, induced by changes in the ETL transport properties, are observed in parallel to significant changes in device open circuit voltage attributed to changes on the E_F of the ETLs. This work highlights the importance of interlayer control in multilayer photovoltaic devices and presents a convenient material compatible with future flexible and roll-to-roll processes.

Original language	English
Article number	1600008
Journal	Advanced Electronic Materials
Volume	2
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.201600008
State	Published - 1 Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
J. Zhang gratefully acknowledges the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for financial support through the CSC scholarship scheme. K. Harrabi and M. A. McLachlan thank the National Science, Technology and Innovation Program of KACST for funding this research under Project No. 12-ENE2379-04. J. C. D. Faria is supported by the EPSRC through the center for doctoral training in plastic electronics (EP/037515/1). All authors thank Dr. J. H. Bannock and Prof. J. C. de Melo (Imperial, Chemistry) for kindly supplying the P3HT used in the study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Keywords

ZnO
electron transport
organic photovoltaic
oxide electronics
solution processing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1002/aelm.201600008

Cite this

@article{fae78790163d4482a3f325e1aad503f5,

title = "Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells",

abstract = "Processing temperature is highlighted as a convenient means of controlling the optical and charge transport properties of solution processed electron transport layers (ETLs) in inverted polymer solar cells. Using the well-studied active layer – poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):indene-C60 bisadduct – the influence of ETL processing temperatures from 25 to 450 °C is shown, reporting the role of crystallinity, structure, charge transport, and Fermi level (EF) on numerous device performance characteristics. It has been determined that an exceptionally low temperature processed ETL (110 °C) increases device power conversion efficiency by a factor greater than 50% compared with a high temperature (450 °C) processed ETL. Modulations in device series and shunt resistance, induced by changes in the ETL transport properties, are observed in parallel to significant changes in device open circuit voltage attributed to changes on the EF of the ETLs. This work highlights the importance of interlayer control in multilayer photovoltaic devices and presents a convenient material compatible with future flexible and roll-to-roll processes.",

keywords = "ZnO, electron transport, organic photovoltaic, oxide electronics, solution processing",

author = "Jiaqi Zhang and Faria, {Jorge C.D.} and Maurizio Morbidoni and Yoann Porte and Burgess, {Claire H.} and Khallil Harrabi and McLachlan, {Martyn A.}",

note = "Funding Information: J. Zhang gratefully acknowledges the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for financial support through the CSC scholarship scheme. K. Harrabi and M. A. McLachlan thank the National Science, Technology and Innovation Program of KACST for funding this research under Project No. 12-ENE2379-04. J. C. D. Faria is supported by the EPSRC through the center for doctoral training in plastic electronics (EP/037515/1). All authors thank Dr. J. H. Bannock and Prof. J. C. de Melo (Imperial, Chemistry) for kindly supplying the P3HT used in the study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim",

year = "2016",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1002/aelm.201600008",

language = "English",

volume = "2",

journal = "Advanced Electronic Materials",

issn = "2199-160X",

publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

AU - Zhang, Jiaqi

AU - Faria, Jorge C.D.

AU - Morbidoni, Maurizio

AU - Porte, Yoann

AU - Burgess, Claire H.

AU - Harrabi, Khallil

AU - McLachlan, Martyn A.

N1 - Funding Information: J. Zhang gratefully acknowledges the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for financial support through the CSC scholarship scheme. K. Harrabi and M. A. McLachlan thank the National Science, Technology and Innovation Program of KACST for funding this research under Project No. 12-ENE2379-04. J. C. D. Faria is supported by the EPSRC through the center for doctoral training in plastic electronics (EP/037515/1). All authors thank Dr. J. H. Bannock and Prof. J. C. de Melo (Imperial, Chemistry) for kindly supplying the P3HT used in the study. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

PY - 2016/6/1

Y1 - 2016/6/1

N2 - Processing temperature is highlighted as a convenient means of controlling the optical and charge transport properties of solution processed electron transport layers (ETLs) in inverted polymer solar cells. Using the well-studied active layer – poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):indene-C60 bisadduct – the influence of ETL processing temperatures from 25 to 450 °C is shown, reporting the role of crystallinity, structure, charge transport, and Fermi level (EF) on numerous device performance characteristics. It has been determined that an exceptionally low temperature processed ETL (110 °C) increases device power conversion efficiency by a factor greater than 50% compared with a high temperature (450 °C) processed ETL. Modulations in device series and shunt resistance, induced by changes in the ETL transport properties, are observed in parallel to significant changes in device open circuit voltage attributed to changes on the EF of the ETLs. This work highlights the importance of interlayer control in multilayer photovoltaic devices and presents a convenient material compatible with future flexible and roll-to-roll processes.

AB - Processing temperature is highlighted as a convenient means of controlling the optical and charge transport properties of solution processed electron transport layers (ETLs) in inverted polymer solar cells. Using the well-studied active layer – poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):indene-C60 bisadduct – the influence of ETL processing temperatures from 25 to 450 °C is shown, reporting the role of crystallinity, structure, charge transport, and Fermi level (EF) on numerous device performance characteristics. It has been determined that an exceptionally low temperature processed ETL (110 °C) increases device power conversion efficiency by a factor greater than 50% compared with a high temperature (450 °C) processed ETL. Modulations in device series and shunt resistance, induced by changes in the ETL transport properties, are observed in parallel to significant changes in device open circuit voltage attributed to changes on the EF of the ETLs. This work highlights the importance of interlayer control in multilayer photovoltaic devices and presents a convenient material compatible with future flexible and roll-to-roll processes.

KW - ZnO

KW - electron transport

KW - organic photovoltaic

KW - oxide electronics

KW - solution processing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84975060715&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/aelm.201600008

DO - 10.1002/aelm.201600008

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84975060715

SN - 2199-160X

VL - 2

JO - Advanced Electronic Materials

JF - Advanced Electronic Materials

IS - 6

M1 - 1600008

ER -

Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Electron Transport Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this