Solution-processed 2D niobium diselenide nanosheets as efficient hole-transport layers in organic solar cells

Thin-layer, two-dimensional NbSe2 nanosheets with lower trap density have been obtained and act as an alternative hole-transporting layer to replace MoO3 in organic solar cells. If poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester acts as an active layer, a power conversion efficiency of 8.10 % has been achieved without any further thermal treatment. The properties of this hole-transporting layer were investigated and the improvements in the devices are discussed.