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Mapping the energy level alignment at donor/acceptor interfaces in non-fullerene organic solar cells

Author

Listed:
  • Xian’e Li

    (Linköping University)

  • Qilun Zhang

    (Linköping University)

  • Jianwei Yu

    (Linköping University)

  • Ye Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Rui Zhang

    (Linköping University)

  • Chuanfei Wang

    (Linköping University)

  • Huotian Zhang

    (Linköping University)

  • Simone Fabiano

    (Linköping University)

  • Xianjie Liu

    (Linköping University)

  • Jianhui Hou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Feng Gao

    (Linköping University)

  • Mats Fahlman

    (Linköping University)

Abstract

Energy level alignment (ELA) at donor (D) -acceptor (A) heterojunctions is essential for understanding the charge generation and recombination process in organic photovoltaic devices. However, the ELA at the D-A interfaces is largely underdetermined, resulting in debates on the fundamental operating mechanisms of high-efficiency non-fullerene organic solar cells. Here, we systematically investigate ELA and its depth-dependent variation of a range of donor/non-fullerene-acceptor interfaces by fabricating and characterizing D-A quasi bilayers and planar bilayers. In contrast to previous assumptions, we observe significant vacuum level (VL) shifts existing at the D-A interfaces, which are demonstrated to be abrupt, extending over only 1–2 layers at the heterojunctions, and are attributed to interface dipoles induced by D-A electrostatic potential differences. The VL shifts result in reduced interfacial energetic offsets and increased charge transfer (CT) state energies which reconcile the conflicting observations of large energy level offsets inferred from neat films and large CT energies of donor - non-fullerene-acceptor systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xian’e Li & Qilun Zhang & Jianwei Yu & Ye Xu & Rui Zhang & Chuanfei Wang & Huotian Zhang & Simone Fabiano & Xianjie Liu & Jianhui Hou & Feng Gao & Mats Fahlman, 2022. "Mapping the energy level alignment at donor/acceptor interfaces in non-fullerene organic solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29702-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29702-w
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    1. Jing Liu & Shangshang Chen & Deping Qian & Bhoj Gautam & Guofang Yang & Jingbo Zhao & Jonas Bergqvist & Fengling Zhang & Wei Ma & Harald Ade & Olle Inganäs & Kenan Gundogdu & Feng Gao & He Yan, 2016. "Fast charge separation in a non-fullerene organic solar cell with a small driving force," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(7), pages 1-7, July.
    2. Andrej Classen & Christos L. Chochos & Larry Lüer & Vasilis G. Gregoriou & Jonas Wortmann & Andres Osvet & Karen Forberich & Iain McCulloch & Thomas Heumüller & Christoph J. Brabec, 2020. "The role of exciton lifetime for charge generation in organic solar cells at negligible energy-level offsets," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(9), pages 711-719, September.
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    1. Yuang Fu & Tack Ho Lee & Yi-Chun Chin & Richard A. Pacalaj & Chiara Labanti & Song Yi Park & Yifan Dong & Hye Won Cho & Jin Young Kim & Daiki Minami & James R. Durrant & Ji-Seon Kim, 2023. "Molecular orientation-dependent energetic shifts in solution-processed non-fullerene acceptors and their impact on organic photovoltaic performance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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