Optimized active layer morphology toward efficient and polymer batch insensitive organic solar cells

Weng, Kangkang; Ye, Linglong; Zhu, Lei (ORCID:0000000339710299); Xu, Jinqiu; Zhou, Jiajia (ORCID:0000000222586757); Feng, Xiang; Lu, Guanghao (ORCID:0000000178297308); Tan, Songting; Liu, Feng (ORCID:0000000255728512); Sun, Yanming (ORCID:0000000178393199)

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16621-x

DOE OSTI · 1632019

Optimized active layer morphology toward efficient and polymer batch insensitive organic solar cells

Weng, Kangkang·Ye, Linglong·Zhu, Lei (ORCID:0000000339710299)·Xu, Jinqiu·Zhou, Jiajia (ORCID:0000000222586757)·Feng, Xiang·Lu, Guanghao (ORCID:0000000178297308)·Tan, Songting·Liu, Feng (ORCID:0000000255728512)·Sun, Yanming (ORCID:0000000178393199)

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Abstract

Abstract Morphology control in laboratory and industry setting remains as a major challenge for organic solar cells (OSCs) due to the difference in film-drying kinetics between spin coating and the printing process. A two-step sequential deposition method is developed to control the active layer morphology. A conjugated polymer that self-assembles into a well-defined fibril structure is used as the first layer, and then a non-fullerene acceptor is introduced into the fibril mesh as the second layer to form an optimal morphology. A benefit of the combined fibril network morphology and non-fullerene acceptor properties was that a high efficiency of 16.5% (certified as 16.1%) was achieved. The preformed fibril network layer and the sequentially deposited non-fullerene acceptor form a robust morphology that is insensitive to the polymer batches, solving a notorious issue in OSCs. Such progress demonstrates that the utilization of polymer fibril networks in a sequential deposition process is a promising approach towards the fabrication of high-efficiency OSCs.

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Weng, Kangkang, Ye, Linglong, Zhu, Lei (ORCID:0000000339710299), Xu, Jinqiu, Zhou, Jiajia (ORCID:0000000222586757), Feng, Xiang, Lu, Guanghao (ORCID:0000000178297308), Tan, Songting, Liu, Feng (ORCID:0000000255728512), Sun, Yanming (ORCID:0000000178393199). 2020-06-05. Optimized active layer morphology toward efficient and polymer batch insensitive organic solar cells. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16621-x

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