Investigating the reason for high FF from ternary organic solar cells

Danqin Li; Yihan Zeng; Zeng Chen; Shifeng Leng; Zuo Xiao; Qifan Xue; Tianyu Hao; Meng Lv; Hongbo Wu; Lina Lin; Jianming Yang; Zaifei Ma; Jinquan Chen; Rong Huang; Feng Liu; Haiming Zhu; Xianjie Liu; Liming Ding; Mats Fahlman; Qinye Bao

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/42/9/090501

J. Semicond. > 2021, Volume 42?>?Issue 9?> 090501

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Investigating the reason for high FF from ternary organic solar cells

Danqin Li¹, Yihan Zeng¹, Zeng Chen³, Shifeng Leng⁴, Zuo Xiao⁵, Qifan Xue⁶, Tianyu Hao⁴, Meng Lv¹, Hongbo Wu⁷, Lina Lin¹, Jianming Yang¹, Zaifei Ma⁷, Jinquan Chen¹, Rong Huang¹, Feng Liu⁴, Haiming Zhu³, Xianjie Liu⁸, Liming Ding^5,, Mats Fahlman⁸ and Qinye Bao^{1, 2, 6,}

+ Author Affiliations

1. School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
3. Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
4. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
5. Center for Excellence in Nanoscience (CAS), Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication (CAS), National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
6. State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
7. Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
8. Laboratory of Organic Electronics, ITN, Link?ping University, SE-60174, Norrk?ping, Sweden

Author Bio:

Danqin Li received her BS and MS from Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University in 2015 and 2018, respectively. She is currently a PhD student in Qinye Bao Group at East China Normal University. Her research focuses on device physics of organic solar cells.

Yihan Zeng got his BS degree from East China Normal University (ECNU) in 2019. He is currently a Master student at ECNU under the supervision of Prof. Qinye Bao. His work focuses on device physics of organic solar cells.

Liming Ding got his PhD from University of Science and Technology of China (was a joint student at Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS). He started his research on OSCs and PLEDs in Olle Ingan?s Lab in 1998. Later on, he worked at National Center for Polymer Research, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Argonne National Lab (USA). He joined Konarka as a Senior Scientist in 2008. In 2010, he joined National Center for Nanoscience and Technology as a full professor. His research focuses on innovative materials and devices. He is RSC Fellow, the nominator for Xplorer Prize, and the Associate Editors for Science Bulletin and Journal of Semiconductors.

Qinye Bao is a professor in School of Physics and Electronic Science at East China Normal University. He received his PhD in 2015 in Surface Physics and Chemistry in Link?ping University. He uses surface techniques, such as ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, etc., to reveal the relationship between interface electronic structures and device performance, especially for OSCs, OLEDs, and perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.

Corresponding author: Liming Ding, ding@nanoctr.cn; Qinye Bao, qybao@clpm.ecnu.edu.cn

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/9/090501

References

[1]	Bao Q, Liu X, Braun S, et al. Intermixing effect on electronic structures of TQ1:PC₇₁BM bulk heterojunction in organic photovoltaics. Sol RRL, 2017, 1, 1700142 doi: 10.1002/solr.201700142
[2]	Li S, Ye L, Zhao W, et al. A wide band gap polymer with a deep highest occupied molecular orbital level enables 14.2% efficiency in polymer solar cells. J Am Chem Soc, 2018, 140, 7159 doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b02695
[3]	Cui Y, Yao H, Zhang J, et al. Over 16% efficiency organic photovoltaic cells enabled by a chlorinated acceptor with increased open-circuit voltages. Nat Commun, 2019, 10, 2515 doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10351-5
[4]	Liu Q, Jiang Y, Jin K, et al. 18% efficiency organic solar cells. Sci Bull, 2020, 65, 272 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.01.001
[5]	Zhang M, Zhu L, Zhou G, et al. Single-layered organic photovoltaics with double cascading charge transport pathways: 18% efficiencies. Nat Commun, 2021, 12, 1 doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20314-w
[6]	Zhan L, Li S, Xia X, et al. Layer-by-layer processed ternary organic photovoltaics with efficiency over 18. Adv Mater, 2021, 33, 2007231 doi: 10.1002/adma.202007231
[7]	Qin J, Zhang L, Zuo C, et al. A chlorinated copolymer donor demonstrates a 18.13% power conversion efficiency. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010501 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010501
[8]	Jin K, Xiao Z, Ding L. D18, an eximious solar polymer!. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010502 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010502
[9]	Xie Y, Wang W, Huang W, et al. Assessing the energy offset at the electron donor/acceptor interface in organic solar cells through radiative efficiency measurements. Energy Environ Sci, 2019, 12, 3556 doi: 10.1039/C9EE02939G
[10]	Sun R, Wu Q, Guo J, et al. A layer-by-layer architecture for printable organic solar cells overcoming the scaling lag of module efficiency. Joule, 2020, 4, 1 doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2019.10.011
[11]	Yuan J, Zhang Y, Zhou L, et al. Single-junction organic solar cell with over 15% efficiency using fused-ring acceptor with electron-deficient core. Joule, 2019, 3, 1140 doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2019.01.004
[12]	Perdigon-Toro L, Zhang H, Markina A, et al. Barrierless free charge generation in the high-performance PM6:Y6 bulk heterojunction non-fullerene solar cell. Adv Mater, 2020, 32, 1906763 doi: 10.1002/adma.201906763
[13]	Liu S, You P, Li J, et al. Enhanced efficiency of polymer solar cells by adding a high-mobility conjugated polymer. Energy Environ Sci, 2015, 8, 1463 doi: 10.1039/C5EE00090D
[14]	Du X, Yuan Y, Zhou L, et al. Delayed fluorescence emitter enables near 17% efficiency ternary organic solar cells with enhanced storage stability and reduced recombination energy loss. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 30, 1909837 doi: 10.1002/adfm.201909837
[15]	Yan T, Ge J, Lei T, et al. 16.55% efficiency ternary organic solar cells enabled by incorporating a small molecular donor. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7, 25894 doi: 10.1039/C9TA10145D
[16]	Bao Q, Sandberg O, Dagnelund D, et al. Trap-assisted recombination via integer charge transfer states in organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaics. Adv Funct Mater, 2014, 24, 6309 doi: 10.1002/adfm.201401513
[17]	Bao Q, Liu X, Wang E, et al. Regular energetics at conjugated electrolyte/electrode modifier for organic electronics and their implications on design rules. Adv Mater Interfaces, 2015, 2, 1500204 doi: 10.1002/admi.201500204
[18]	Li D, Zhu L, Liu X, et al. Enhanced and balanced charge transport boosting ternary solar cells over 17% efficiency. Adv Mater, 2020, 32, 2002344 doi: 10.1002/adma.202002344
[19]	Li Q, Sun Y, Xue X, et al. Insights into charge separation and transport in ternary polymer solar cells. ACS Appl Mat Interfaces, 2019, 11, 3299 doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b18240
[20]	Zhang L, Xu X, Lin B, et al. Achieving balanced crystallinity of donor and acceptor by combining blade-coating and ternary strategies in organic solar cells. Adv Mater, 2018, 30, 1805041 doi: 10.1002/adma.201805041
[21]	Liu T, Ma R, Luo Z, et al. Concurrent improvement in J_sc and V_oc in high-efficiency ternary organic solar cells enabled by a red-absorbing small-molecule acceptor with a high LUMO level. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, 13, 2115 doi: 10.1039/D0EE00662A
[22]	Gasparini N, Jiao X, Heumueller T, et al. Designing ternary blend bulk heterojunction solar cells with reduced carrier recombination and a fill factor of 77%. Nat Energy, 2016, 1, 1 doi: 10.1038/NENERGY.2016.118
[23]	Nian L, Kan Y, Wang H, et al. Ternary non-fullerene polymer solar cells with 13.51% efficiency and a record-high fill factor of 78.13%. Energy Environ Sci, 2018, 11, 3392 doi: 10.1039/C8EE01564C
[24]	Xie G, Zhang Z, Su Z, et al. 16.5% efficiency ternary organic photovoltaics with two polymer donors by optimizing molecular arrangement and phase separation. Nano Energy, 2020, 69, 104447 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104447
[25]	Rosenthal K D, Hughes M P, Luginbuhl B R, et al. Quantifying and understanding voltage losses due to nonradiative recombination in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells with low energetic offsets. Adv Energy Mater, 2019, 9, 1901077 doi: 10.1002/aenm.201901077
[26]	Ran N A, Roland S, Love J A, et al. Impact of interfacial molecular orientation on radiative recombination and charge generation efficiency. Nat Commun, 2017, 8, 79 doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00107-4
[27]	Karki A, Vollbrecht J, Dixon A L, et al. Understanding the high performance of over 15% efficiency in single-junction bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. Adv Mater, 2019, 31, 1903868 doi: 10.1002/adma.201903868
[28]	Karki A, Vollbrecht J, Gillett A J, et al. Unifying charge generation, recombination, and extraction in low-offset non-fullerene acceptor organic solar cells. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10, 2001203 doi: 10.1002/aenm.202001203

Fig. 1. (a) Chemical structures of PM6, Y6 and EH-IDTBR. (b) Relevant energy levels. (c) J?V curves for PM6:Y6, PM6:EH-IDTBR, and PM6:EH-IDTBR (5% w/w):Y6 OSCs. (d) EQE spectra. (e) FF vs PCE plots for PM6:Y6-based ternary cells. (f) Charge carrier lifetime (τ) as a function of charge density (n). (g) sEQE and EL spectra for the optimal ternary cell. The extended sEQE (orange line) is determined by EL and the blackbody emission (BB). (h) EQE_EL–current plots for binary and ternary cells.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

[1]	Bao Q, Liu X, Braun S, et al. Intermixing effect on electronic structures of TQ1:PC₇₁BM bulk heterojunction in organic photovoltaics. Sol RRL, 2017, 1, 1700142 doi: 10.1002/solr.201700142
[2]	Li S, Ye L, Zhao W, et al. A wide band gap polymer with a deep highest occupied molecular orbital level enables 14.2% efficiency in polymer solar cells. J Am Chem Soc, 2018, 140, 7159 doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b02695
[3]	Cui Y, Yao H, Zhang J, et al. Over 16% efficiency organic photovoltaic cells enabled by a chlorinated acceptor with increased open-circuit voltages. Nat Commun, 2019, 10, 2515 doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10351-5
[4]	Liu Q, Jiang Y, Jin K, et al. 18% efficiency organic solar cells. Sci Bull, 2020, 65, 272 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.01.001
[5]	Zhang M, Zhu L, Zhou G, et al. Single-layered organic photovoltaics with double cascading charge transport pathways: 18% efficiencies. Nat Commun, 2021, 12, 1 doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20314-w
[6]	Zhan L, Li S, Xia X, et al. Layer-by-layer processed ternary organic photovoltaics with efficiency over 18. Adv Mater, 2021, 33, 2007231 doi: 10.1002/adma.202007231
[7]	Qin J, Zhang L, Zuo C, et al. A chlorinated copolymer donor demonstrates a 18.13% power conversion efficiency. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010501 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010501
[8]	Jin K, Xiao Z, Ding L. D18, an eximious solar polymer!. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010502 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010502
[9]	Xie Y, Wang W, Huang W, et al. Assessing the energy offset at the electron donor/acceptor interface in organic solar cells through radiative efficiency measurements. Energy Environ Sci, 2019, 12, 3556 doi: 10.1039/C9EE02939G
[10]	Sun R, Wu Q, Guo J, et al. A layer-by-layer architecture for printable organic solar cells overcoming the scaling lag of module efficiency. Joule, 2020, 4, 1 doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2019.10.011
[11]	Yuan J, Zhang Y, Zhou L, et al. Single-junction organic solar cell with over 15% efficiency using fused-ring acceptor with electron-deficient core. Joule, 2019, 3, 1140 doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2019.01.004
[12]	Perdigon-Toro L, Zhang H, Markina A, et al. Barrierless free charge generation in the high-performance PM6:Y6 bulk heterojunction non-fullerene solar cell. Adv Mater, 2020, 32, 1906763 doi: 10.1002/adma.201906763
[13]	Liu S, You P, Li J, et al. Enhanced efficiency of polymer solar cells by adding a high-mobility conjugated polymer. Energy Environ Sci, 2015, 8, 1463 doi: 10.1039/C5EE00090D
[14]	Du X, Yuan Y, Zhou L, et al. Delayed fluorescence emitter enables near 17% efficiency ternary organic solar cells with enhanced storage stability and reduced recombination energy loss. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 30, 1909837 doi: 10.1002/adfm.201909837
[15]	Yan T, Ge J, Lei T, et al. 16.55% efficiency ternary organic solar cells enabled by incorporating a small molecular donor. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7, 25894 doi: 10.1039/C9TA10145D
[16]	Bao Q, Sandberg O, Dagnelund D, et al. Trap-assisted recombination via integer charge transfer states in organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaics. Adv Funct Mater, 2014, 24, 6309 doi: 10.1002/adfm.201401513
[17]	Bao Q, Liu X, Wang E, et al. Regular energetics at conjugated electrolyte/electrode modifier for organic electronics and their implications on design rules. Adv Mater Interfaces, 2015, 2, 1500204 doi: 10.1002/admi.201500204
[18]	Li D, Zhu L, Liu X, et al. Enhanced and balanced charge transport boosting ternary solar cells over 17% efficiency. Adv Mater, 2020, 32, 2002344 doi: 10.1002/adma.202002344
[19]	Li Q, Sun Y, Xue X, et al. Insights into charge separation and transport in ternary polymer solar cells. ACS Appl Mat Interfaces, 2019, 11, 3299 doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b18240
[20]	Zhang L, Xu X, Lin B, et al. Achieving balanced crystallinity of donor and acceptor by combining blade-coating and ternary strategies in organic solar cells. Adv Mater, 2018, 30, 1805041 doi: 10.1002/adma.201805041
[21]	Liu T, Ma R, Luo Z, et al. Concurrent improvement in J_sc and V_oc in high-efficiency ternary organic solar cells enabled by a red-absorbing small-molecule acceptor with a high LUMO level. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, 13, 2115 doi: 10.1039/D0EE00662A
[22]	Gasparini N, Jiao X, Heumueller T, et al. Designing ternary blend bulk heterojunction solar cells with reduced carrier recombination and a fill factor of 77%. Nat Energy, 2016, 1, 1 doi: 10.1038/NENERGY.2016.118
[23]	Nian L, Kan Y, Wang H, et al. Ternary non-fullerene polymer solar cells with 13.51% efficiency and a record-high fill factor of 78.13%. Energy Environ Sci, 2018, 11, 3392 doi: 10.1039/C8EE01564C
[24]	Xie G, Zhang Z, Su Z, et al. 16.5% efficiency ternary organic photovoltaics with two polymer donors by optimizing molecular arrangement and phase separation. Nano Energy, 2020, 69, 104447 doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104447
[25]	Rosenthal K D, Hughes M P, Luginbuhl B R, et al. Quantifying and understanding voltage losses due to nonradiative recombination in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells with low energetic offsets. Adv Energy Mater, 2019, 9, 1901077 doi: 10.1002/aenm.201901077
[26]	Ran N A, Roland S, Love J A, et al. Impact of interfacial molecular orientation on radiative recombination and charge generation efficiency. Nat Commun, 2017, 8, 79 doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00107-4
[27]	Karki A, Vollbrecht J, Dixon A L, et al. Understanding the high performance of over 15% efficiency in single-junction bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. Adv Mater, 2019, 31, 1903868 doi: 10.1002/adma.201903868
[28]	Karki A, Vollbrecht J, Gillett A J, et al. Unifying charge generation, recombination, and extraction in low-offset non-fullerene acceptor organic solar cells. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10, 2001203 doi: 10.1002/aenm.202001203