Amino acid functionalised perylene bisimides for aqueous solution-deposited electron transporting interlayers in organic photovoltaic devices. Issue 10 (21st February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cameron, Joseph; Adams, Dave J.; Skabara, Peter J.; Draper, Emily R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 3944
• Page End: 3950
• Publication Date: 2022-02-21
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d1tc04622e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : Here we show water solubilised amino acid appended perylene bisimides show promising performance for solution-processed multilayer devices where orthogonal processing is necessary, an important factor for greener and large scale fabrication of photovoltaics. Abstract : Solution-processable organic solar cells have the potential to offer a low-cost renewable energy source with low energy intensive processing. However, the range of materials that are compatible for forming multilayer photovoltaic devices beyond a bulk heterojunction layer is limited due to a requirement for orthogonal processing to avoid dissolution of layers. Improving charge transport is a key challenge in the pursuit of high efficiency organic photovoltaics. Therefore, the development of solution-processable electron transport layers that are suitable for orthogonal processing is important for the feasibility of solution-processed devices. Here, we present a series of amino acid appended perylene bisimides (PBIs) which have been used as electron transporting interlayers in P3HT/PC61 BM based organic photovoltaic cells. These PBIs are easily soluble in water at high pH, allowing for easy solution processability. Despite minimal changes in molecular structure in the series of PBIs, there are profound differences in performance of the solar cells, with the phenylalanine derivative showing the most promising performance. The absorbance, morphology and photoconductivity properties of the PBIs have a strong influence on the suitability of the material as an effective interlayer.