Ether chain functionalized fullerene derivatives as cathode interface materials for efficient organic solar cells

doi:10.1007/s12200-018-0842-9

Front. Optoelectron.

2018, Vol. 11

Issue (4) : 348-359 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-018-0842-9

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Ether chain functionalized fullerene derivatives as cathode interface materials for efficient organic solar cells

Jikang LIU, Junli LI, Guoli TU(

)

Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

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Abstract

The electron transport layer (ETL) plays a crucial role on the electron injection and extraction, resulting in balanced charge transporting and reducing the interfacial energy barrier. The interface compatibility and electrical contact via employing appropriate buffer layer at the surface of hydrophobic organic active layer and hydrophilic inorganic electrode are also essential for charge collections. Herein, an ether chain functionalized fullerene derivatives [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyricacid-(3,5-bis(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-ethoxy)-phenyl)-methyl ester (C₆₀-2EPM) was developed to modify zinc oxide (ZnO) in inverted structure organic solar cells (OSCs). The composited ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM interface layer can help to overcome the low interface compatibility between ZnO and organic active layer. By introducing the C₆₀-2EPM layer, the composited fullerene derivatives tune energy alignment and accelerated the electronic transfer, leading to increased photocurrent and power conversion efficiency (PCE) in the inverted OSCs. The PCE based on PTB7-Th:PC₇₁BM was enhance from 8.11% on bare ZnO to 8.38% and 8.65% with increasing concentrations of 2.0 and 4.0 mg/mL, respectively. The fullerene derivatives C₆₀-2EPM was also used as a third compound in P3HT:PC₆₁BM blend to form ternary system, the devices with addition of C₆₀-2EPM exhibited better values than the control device.

Keywords interface compatibility functionalized fullerene derivatives tune energy alignment third compound ternary system

Corresponding Author(s): Guoli TU

Just Accepted Date: 24 October 2018 Online First Date: 14 December 2018 Issue Date: 21 December 2018

Cite this article:

Jikang LIU,Junli LI,Guoli TU. Ether chain functionalized fullerene derivatives as cathode interface materials for efficient organic solar cells[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2018, 11(4): 348-359.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-018-0842-9
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2018/V11/I4/348

Fig.1 Device architecture of the inverted organic solar cells and molecular structures of C₆₀-2EPM, PC₇₁BM and PTB7-Th

Fig.2 Scheme 1 Synthetic scheme of C₆₀-2EPM

Fig.3 (a) O 1s, (b) C 1s spectra of ZnO and ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM and (c) atomic concentrations of carbon, oxygen and zinc based on the corresponding XPS spectra

Tab.1 Energy levels of ZnO and ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM

Tab.2 Device parameters of the inverted polymer solar cell with the structure of ITO/ETLs/active layer/MoO₃/Al with and without the fullerene derivatives as interface layers based on the blend system of P3HT:PC₆₁BM and PTB7-Th:PC₇₁BM under the illumination of AM 1.5 G, illumination at 100 mW/cm²

Fig.4 J–V characteristics and dark current of the inverted polymer solar cell with different structure of (a)ITO/ fullerene derivatives (x)/P3HT:PC₆₁BM/MoO₃/Al; (b) ITO/ZnO/fullerene derivatives (x)/PTB7-Th:PC₇₁BM /MoO₃/Al; (c) ITO/fullerene derivatives (x)/P3HT:PC₆₁BM/MoO₃/Al; (d) ITO/ZnO/fullerene derivatives (x)/PTB7-Th:PC₇₁BM/MoO₃/Al (x = 2.0, 4.0 mg/mL)

Tab.3 Photovoltaic parameters of the ternary inverted OSCs with the structure of ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PC₆₁BM:C₆₀-2EPM(x)/MoO₃/Al

Fig.5 (a) J–V characteristics; (b) dark current of the inverted polymer solar cell with structure of ITO/ZnO/ P3HT:PC₆₁BM:C₆₀-2EPM (x = 0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%)

Fig. S1¹H NMR spectrums of 2EPM

Fig. S2¹H NMR spectrums of C₆₀-2EPM

Fig. S3 UV-vis absorption spectrum of the PC₆₁BA, 2EPM and C₆₀-2EPM

Fig. S4 XPS spectra of all atomics of ZnO and ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM

Fig. S5 UPS spectra of ZnO and ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM

Fig. S6 UV-vis absorption spectrum of (a) ZnO and ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM; (b) the devices with the structure of ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PC₆₁BM:C₆₀-2EPM (x = 0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%)

Fig. S7 Surface topography AFM images (5 μm ´ 5 μm) of the devices. (a) ITO/ZnO/; (b) ITO/ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM (2.0 mg/mL); (c) ITO/ZnO/C₆₀-2EPM (4.0 mg/mL)

Fig. S8 Surface topography AFM images (5 μm ´ 5 μm ) of devices with the structure of ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PC₆₁BM with addition of C₆₀-2EPM. (a) 0%; (b) 5% C₆₀-2EPM; (c) 10% C₆₀-2EPM; (d) 15% C₆₀-2EPM; (e) 20% C₆₀-2EPM

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