The effect of the functionalization of multiple carrier transporting interlayers on the performance and stability of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

Muhammad Hilal, Jeong In Han

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper, we describe how the functionalization of carrier transporting interlayers affects the performance and stability of poly(3-hexylthiophene): poly(3-hexylthiophene): 3′H-cyclopropa [8,25] [5,6] fullerene-C60-D5h(6)-3′-butanoic acid 3′-phenyl methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM)-based organic solar cells. Composites of graphene oxide (GO) with zinc oxide (ZnO), (GO+ZnO) and with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) (GO+PEDOT:PSS) were produced by grafting the ZnO and PEDOT:PSS onto GO sheets using a molecular level functionalization approach. This molecular level attachment was confirmed based on X-ray diffraction patterns, an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The functionalization interlayer helped to attach the PEDOT:PSS and ZnO firmly to the GO layer, thereby forming an air-resistant layer and also supporting the backflow of free carrier transfer from the photoactive layer to their respective electrodes. Consequently, the device fabricated with the ZnO+GO composite as an electron transport layer and the GO+PEDOT:PSS composite as a hole transport layer demonstrated a significant improvement in PCE (4.88%), reproducibility, and environmental stability (40% after 432 h). Thus, we confirmed that these air-resistant and fast carriers transporting composite layers will probably contribute significantly to the widespread commercialization of low-cost and easily fabricated organic solar cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13561-13576
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
Volume29
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2018

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