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

Zhang H, Tan WY, Fladischer S, Ke L, Ameri T, Li N, Turbiez M, Spiecker E, Zhu XH, Cao Y, Brabec C (2016)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2016

Journal

Book Volume: 4

Pages Range: 5032-5038

Journal Issue: 14

DOI: 10.1039/c6ta00391e

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-C-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), 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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Additional Organisation(s)

Involved external institutions

BASF Schweiz AG Switzerland (CH) South China University of Technology (SCUT) / 华南理工大学 China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Zhang, H., Tan, W.-Y., Fladischer, S., Ke, L., Ameri, T., Li, N.,... Brabec, C. (2016). Roll to roll compatible fabrication of inverted organic solar cells with a self-organized charge selective cathode interfacial layer. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 4(14), 5032-5038. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta00391e

MLA:

Zhang, Hong, et al. "Roll to roll compatible fabrication of inverted organic solar cells with a self-organized charge selective cathode interfacial layer." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 4.14 (2016): 5032-5038.

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