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Molecular helices as electron acceptors in high-performance bulk heterojunction solar cells

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Zhong

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • M. Tuan Trinh

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Rongsheng Chen

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA
    School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology)

  • Geoffrey E. Purdum

    (Princeton University)

  • Petr P. Khlyabich

    (Princeton University)

  • Melda Sezen

    (Princeton University)

  • Seokjoon Oh

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Haiming Zhu

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Brandon Fowler

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Boyuan Zhang

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Wei Wang

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Chang-Yong Nam

    (Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Matthew Y. Sfeir

    (Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Charles T. Black

    (Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Michael L. Steigerwald

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Yueh-Lin Loo

    (Princeton University)

  • Fay Ng

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • X.-Y. Zhu

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

  • Colin Nuckolls

    (Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, Havemeyer Hall, MC3130, New York, New York 10027, USA)

Abstract

Despite numerous organic semiconducting materials synthesized for organic photovoltaics in the past decade, fullerenes are widely used as electron acceptors in highly efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells. None of the non-fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells have achieved efficiencies as high as fullerene-based solar cells. Design principles for fullerene-free acceptors remain unclear in the field. Here we report examples of helical molecular semiconductors as electron acceptors that are on par with fullerene derivatives in efficient solar cells. We achieved an 8.3% power conversion efficiency in a solar cell, which is a record high for non-fullerene bulk heterojunctions. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy revealed both electron and hole transfer processes at the donor−acceptor interfaces. Atomic force microscopy reveals a mesh-like network of acceptors with pores that are tens of nanometres in diameter for efficient exciton separation and charge transport. This study describes a new motif for designing highly efficient acceptors for organic solar cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Zhong & M. Tuan Trinh & Rongsheng Chen & Geoffrey E. Purdum & Petr P. Khlyabich & Melda Sezen & Seokjoon Oh & Haiming Zhu & Brandon Fowler & Boyuan Zhang & Wei Wang & Chang-Yong Nam & Matthew Y. Sf, 2015. "Molecular helices as electron acceptors in high-performance bulk heterojunction solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9242
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9242
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander J. Gillett & Claire Tonnelé & Giacomo Londi & Gaetano Ricci & Manon Catherin & Darcy M. L. Unson & David Casanova & Frédéric Castet & Yoann Olivier & Weimin M. Chen & Elena Zaborova & Emrys , 2021. "Spontaneous exciton dissociation enables spin state interconversion in delayed fluorescence organic semiconductors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Jiaxin Guo & Ziming Bu & Shuo Han & Yanyu Deng & Chunyu Liu & Wenbin Guo, 2021. "Easily Prepared Transparent Electrodes for Low-Cost Semitransparent Inverted Polymer Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-10, September.

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