Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers

Xiaoman Bi; Ziang Wu; Tao Zhang; Cunbin An; Ye Xu; Kangqiao Ma; Sunsun Li; Shaoqing Zhang; Huifeng Yao; Bowei Xu; Han Young Woo; Shaokui Cao; Jianhui Hou

doi:10.1021/acsami.0c04397

Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers

Xiaoman Bi, Ziang Wu, Tao Zhang, Cunbin An, Ye Xu, Kangqiao Ma, Sunsun Li, Shaoqing Zhang, Huifeng Yao, Bowei Xu, Han Young Woo, Shaokui Cao, Jianhui Hou

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nonradiative recombination energy loss (Î"E₃) plays a key role in enhancing device efficiencies for polymer solar cells (PSCs). Until now, there is no clear resolution for reducing Î"E₃ via molecular design. Herein, we report two conjugated polymers, PBDB-P-p and PBDB-P-m, which are integrated from benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene with alkylthio chain substituted at para-or meta-position on pendent benzene and benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c′]dithiophene-4,8-dione. Both the polymers have different temperature-dependent aggregation properties but similar molecular energy levels. When BO-4Cl was used as an acceptor to fabricate PSCs, the device of PBDB-P-p:BO-4Cl displayed a maximal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.83%, while the best device of PBDB-P-m:BO-4Cl exhibited a higher PCE of 14.12%. The close J_SCs and fill factors in both PSCs are attributed to their formation of effective nanoscale phase separation as confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements. We find that the PBDB-P-m-based device has 1 order of magnitude higher electroluminescence quantum efficiency (EQE_EL) than in the PBDB-P-p-based one, which could arise from the relatively weak aggregation in the PBDB-P-m-based film. Thus, the PBDB-P-m-based device has a remarkably enhanced V_OC of 0.86 V in contrast to 0.80 V in the PBDB-P-p-based device. This study offers a feasible structural optimization way on the alkylthio side chain substitute position on the conjugated polymer to enhance V_OC by reducing nonradiative recombination energy loss in the resulting PSCs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	24184-24191
Number of pages	8
Journal	ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume	12
Issue number	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c04397
Publication status	Published - 2020 May 27

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We greatly thank the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos 51703228, 51673201, and 21835006), Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS-CXXM-201903), and postdoctoral research grant in Henan Province (1902018). H.Y. Woo gratefully acknowledges the funding of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea (2012M3A6A7055540 and 2019R1A6A1A11044070).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Chemical Society.

Keywords

alkylthio-substituted position
nonradiative recombination energy loss
open-circuit voltage
polymer donor
polymer solar cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science

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10.1021/acsami.0c04397

Cite this

Bi, X., Wu, Z., Zhang, T., An, C., Xu, Y., Ma, K., Li, S., Zhang, S., Yao, H., Xu, B., Woo, H. Y., Cao, S., & Hou, J. (2020). Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 12(21), 24184-24191. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c04397

Bi, X, Wu, Z, Zhang, T, An, C, Xu, Y, Ma, K, Li, S, Zhang, S, Yao, H, Xu, B, Woo, HY, Cao, S & Hou, J 2020, 'Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers', ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, vol. 12, no. 21, pp. 24184-24191. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c04397

@article{1052171884ce42538cc3bee6c1a99a60,

title = "Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers",

abstract = "Nonradiative recombination energy loss ({\^I}{"}E3) plays a key role in enhancing device efficiencies for polymer solar cells (PSCs). Until now, there is no clear resolution for reducing {\^I}{"}E3 via molecular design. Herein, we report two conjugated polymers, PBDB-P-p and PBDB-P-m, which are integrated from benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene with alkylthio chain substituted at para-or meta-position on pendent benzene and benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c′]dithiophene-4,8-dione. Both the polymers have different temperature-dependent aggregation properties but similar molecular energy levels. When BO-4Cl was used as an acceptor to fabricate PSCs, the device of PBDB-P-p:BO-4Cl displayed a maximal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.83%, while the best device of PBDB-P-m:BO-4Cl exhibited a higher PCE of 14.12%. The close JSCs and fill factors in both PSCs are attributed to their formation of effective nanoscale phase separation as confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements. We find that the PBDB-P-m-based device has 1 order of magnitude higher electroluminescence quantum efficiency (EQEEL) than in the PBDB-P-p-based one, which could arise from the relatively weak aggregation in the PBDB-P-m-based film. Thus, the PBDB-P-m-based device has a remarkably enhanced VOC of 0.86 V in contrast to 0.80 V in the PBDB-P-p-based device. This study offers a feasible structural optimization way on the alkylthio side chain substitute position on the conjugated polymer to enhance VOC by reducing nonradiative recombination energy loss in the resulting PSCs.",

keywords = "alkylthio-substituted position, nonradiative recombination energy loss, open-circuit voltage, polymer donor, polymer solar cells",

author = "Xiaoman Bi and Ziang Wu and Tao Zhang and Cunbin An and Ye Xu and Kangqiao Ma and Sunsun Li and Shaoqing Zhang and Huifeng Yao and Bowei Xu and Woo, {Han Young} and Shaokui Cao and Jianhui Hou",

note = "Funding Information: We greatly thank the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos 51703228, 51673201, and 21835006), Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS-CXXM-201903), and postdoctoral research grant in Henan Province (1902018). H.Y. Woo gratefully acknowledges the funding of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea (2012M3A6A7055540 and 2019R1A6A1A11044070). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 American Chemical Society.",

year = "2020",

month = may,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1021/acsami.0c04397",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

pages = "24184--24191",

journal = "ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces",

issn = "1944-8244",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "21",

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T1 - Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers

AU - Bi, Xiaoman

AU - Wu, Ziang

AU - Zhang, Tao

AU - An, Cunbin

AU - Xu, Ye

AU - Ma, Kangqiao

AU - Li, Sunsun

AU - Zhang, Shaoqing

AU - Yao, Huifeng

AU - Xu, Bowei

AU - Woo, Han Young

AU - Cao, Shaokui

AU - Hou, Jianhui

N1 - Funding Information: We greatly thank the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos 51703228, 51673201, and 21835006), Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS-CXXM-201903), and postdoctoral research grant in Henan Province (1902018). H.Y. Woo gratefully acknowledges the funding of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea (2012M3A6A7055540 and 2019R1A6A1A11044070). Publisher Copyright: © 2020 American Chemical Society.

PY - 2020/5/27

Y1 - 2020/5/27

N2 - Nonradiative recombination energy loss (Î"E3) plays a key role in enhancing device efficiencies for polymer solar cells (PSCs). Until now, there is no clear resolution for reducing Î"E3 via molecular design. Herein, we report two conjugated polymers, PBDB-P-p and PBDB-P-m, which are integrated from benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene with alkylthio chain substituted at para-or meta-position on pendent benzene and benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c′]dithiophene-4,8-dione. Both the polymers have different temperature-dependent aggregation properties but similar molecular energy levels. When BO-4Cl was used as an acceptor to fabricate PSCs, the device of PBDB-P-p:BO-4Cl displayed a maximal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.83%, while the best device of PBDB-P-m:BO-4Cl exhibited a higher PCE of 14.12%. The close JSCs and fill factors in both PSCs are attributed to their formation of effective nanoscale phase separation as confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements. We find that the PBDB-P-m-based device has 1 order of magnitude higher electroluminescence quantum efficiency (EQEEL) than in the PBDB-P-p-based one, which could arise from the relatively weak aggregation in the PBDB-P-m-based film. Thus, the PBDB-P-m-based device has a remarkably enhanced VOC of 0.86 V in contrast to 0.80 V in the PBDB-P-p-based device. This study offers a feasible structural optimization way on the alkylthio side chain substitute position on the conjugated polymer to enhance VOC by reducing nonradiative recombination energy loss in the resulting PSCs.

AB - Nonradiative recombination energy loss (Î"E3) plays a key role in enhancing device efficiencies for polymer solar cells (PSCs). Until now, there is no clear resolution for reducing Î"E3 via molecular design. Herein, we report two conjugated polymers, PBDB-P-p and PBDB-P-m, which are integrated from benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene with alkylthio chain substituted at para-or meta-position on pendent benzene and benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c′]dithiophene-4,8-dione. Both the polymers have different temperature-dependent aggregation properties but similar molecular energy levels. When BO-4Cl was used as an acceptor to fabricate PSCs, the device of PBDB-P-p:BO-4Cl displayed a maximal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.83%, while the best device of PBDB-P-m:BO-4Cl exhibited a higher PCE of 14.12%. The close JSCs and fill factors in both PSCs are attributed to their formation of effective nanoscale phase separation as confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements. We find that the PBDB-P-m-based device has 1 order of magnitude higher electroluminescence quantum efficiency (EQEEL) than in the PBDB-P-p-based one, which could arise from the relatively weak aggregation in the PBDB-P-m-based film. Thus, the PBDB-P-m-based device has a remarkably enhanced VOC of 0.86 V in contrast to 0.80 V in the PBDB-P-p-based device. This study offers a feasible structural optimization way on the alkylthio side chain substitute position on the conjugated polymer to enhance VOC by reducing nonradiative recombination energy loss in the resulting PSCs.

KW - alkylthio-substituted position

KW - nonradiative recombination energy loss

KW - open-circuit voltage

KW - polymer donor

KW - polymer solar cells

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U2 - 10.1021/acsami.0c04397

DO - 10.1021/acsami.0c04397

M3 - Article

C2 - 32367720

AN - SCOPUS:85085586358

SN - 1944-8244

VL - 12

SP - 24184

EP - 24191

JO - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

JF - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

IS - 21

ER -

Reduced Nonradiative Recombination Energy Loss Enabled Efficient Polymer Solar Cells via Tuning Alkyl Chain Positions on Pendent Benzene Units of Polymers

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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