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Traps and transport resistance are the next frontiers for stable non-fullerene acceptor solar cells

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher Wöpke

    (Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz)

  • Clemens Göhler

    (Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz)

  • Maria Saladina

    (Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz)

  • Xiaoyan Du

    (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN))

  • Li Nian

    (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University)

  • Christopher Greve

    (Physikalisches Institut, Dynamik und Strukturbildung - Herzig Group, Universität Bayreuth)

  • Chenhui Zhu

    (Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Kaila M. Yallum

    (University of Bern)

  • Yvonne J. Hofstetter

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden)

  • David Becker-Koch

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Ning Li

    (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN)
    State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology)

  • Thomas Heumüller

    (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN))

  • Ilya Milekhin

    (Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz)

  • Dietrich R. T. Zahn

    (Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz)

  • Christoph J. Brabec

    (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN))

  • Natalie Banerji

    (University of Bern)

  • Yana Vaynzof

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Eva M. Herzig

    (Physikalisches Institut, Dynamik und Strukturbildung - Herzig Group, Universität Bayreuth)

  • Roderick C. I. MacKenzie

    (Durham University, Lower Mount Joy)

  • Carsten Deibel

    (Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz)

Abstract

Stability is one of the most important challenges facing material research for organic solar cells (OSC) on their path to further commercialization. In the high-performance material system PM6:Y6 studied here, we investigate degradation mechanisms of inverted photovoltaic devices. We have identified two distinct degradation pathways: one requires the presence of both illumination and oxygen and features a short-circuit current reduction, the other one is induced thermally and marked by severe losses of open-circuit voltage and fill factor. We focus our investigation on the thermally accelerated degradation. Our findings show that bulk material properties and interfaces remain remarkably stable, however, aging-induced defect state formation in the active layer remains the primary cause of thermal degradation. The increased trap density leads to higher non-radiative recombination, which limits the open-circuit voltage and lowers the charge carrier mobility in the photoactive layer. Furthermore, we find the trap-induced transport resistance to be the major reason for the drop in fill factor. Our results suggest that device lifetimes could be significantly increased by marginally suppressing trap formation, leading to a bright future for OSC.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Wöpke & Clemens Göhler & Maria Saladina & Xiaoyan Du & Li Nian & Christopher Greve & Chenhui Zhu & Kaila M. Yallum & Yvonne J. Hofstetter & David Becker-Koch & Ning Li & Thomas Heumüller &, 2022. "Traps and transport resistance are the next frontiers for stable non-fullerene acceptor solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31326-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31326-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ning Li & José Darío Perea & Thaer Kassar & Moses Richter & Thomas Heumueller & Gebhard J. Matt & Yi Hou & Nusret S. Güldal & Haiwei Chen & Shi Chen & Stefan Langner & Marvin Berlinghof & Tobias Unruh, 2017. "Abnormal strong burn-in degradation of highly efficient polymer solar cells caused by spinodal donor-acceptor demixing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, April.
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    3. Ivan Ramirez & Alberto Privitera & Safakath Karuthedath & Anna Jungbluth & Johannes Benduhn & Andreas Sperlich & Donato Spoltore & Koen Vandewal & Frédéric Laquai & Moritz Riede, 2021. "The role of spin in the degradation of organic photovoltaics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
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