Combining Fullerenes and Zwitterions in Non‐Conjugated Polymer Interlayers to Raise Solar Cell Efficiency. Issue 31 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yao; Sheri, Madhu; Cole, Marcus D.; Emrick, Todd; Russell, Thomas P.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 57:Issue 31(2018)
• Page Start: 9675
• Page End: 9678
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: charge transport -- interfacial modification -- organic semiconductors -- organic solar cells -- polymer zwitterions; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201803748
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Polymer zwitterions were synthesized by nucleophilic ring‐opening of 3, 3′‐(but‐2‐ene‐1, 4‐diyl)bis(1, 2‐oxathiolane 2, 2‐dioxide) (a bis‐sultone) with functional perylene diimide (PDI) or fullerene monomers. Integration of these polymers into solar cell devices as cathode interlayers boosted efficiencies of fullerene‐based organic photovoltaics (OPVs) from 2.75 % to 10.74 %, and of non‐fullerene‐based OPVs from 4.25 % to 10.10 %, demonstrating the versatility of these interlayer materials in OPVs. The fullerene‐containing polymer zwitterion (C60 ‐PZ ) showed a higher interfacial dipole (Δ) value and electron mobility than its PDI counterpart (PDI‐PZ ), affording solar cells with high efficiency. The power ofPDI‐PZ andC60 ‐PZ to improve electron injection and extraction processes when positioned between metal electrodes and organic semiconductors highlights their promise to overcome energy barriers at the hard‐soft materials interface of organic electronics. Abstract : Polymers were prepared by integrating electron‐transporting components into a zwitterionic polymer backbone. Using these polymer zwitterions as interlayers afforded efficient fullerene‐based and non‐fullerene‐based organic photovoltaics, demonstrating the versatility of this interlayer materials system in photovoltaics. This investigation provides guidelines for designing high‐performance interfacial materials and devices.