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Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Zinc Tin Oxide Film as a Cathode Interlayer for Organic Solar Cells
Jiajun Wei1,2, Zhigang Yin1,2, Shan-Ci Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Structure Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 155 Yangqiao West Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 25, 2017
Summary
Tin-doped zinc oxide (ZTO) films improve organic solar cell performance. These ZTO electron transport layers enable high power conversion efficiency and stability, even with low-temperature processing for flexible devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Energy Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Electron transport layers (ETLs) are crucial for efficient organic solar cells (OSCs).
- Developing low-temperature processed ETLs is key for flexible and cost-effective OSC fabrication.
- Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising ETL material, but its performance can be limited by processing conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of tin (Sn) doping on ZnO as an electron transport material for organic solar cells.
- To evaluate the performance and stability of organic solar cells utilizing Sn-doped ZnO (ZTO) ETLs processed at various temperatures.
- To demonstrate the potential of low-temperature processed ZTO for efficient and stable flexible organic solar cells.
Main Methods:
- Sol-gel method for synthesizing Sn-doped ZnO (ZTO) films.
- Fabrication of inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) using ZTO as the electron transport layer.
- Characterization of film morphology, charge transport properties, and device performance (power conversion efficiency, stability).
Main Results:
- Sn modification improved the charge transport properties and surface morphology of ZnO films.
- ZTO films processed at a low temperature of 120 °C exhibited excellent performance.
- Inverted OSCs with high-temperature (200 °C) processed ZTO achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.32%.
- Low-temperature processed ZTO-based devices demonstrated a high PCE over 9.0% with enhanced long-term stability compared to ZnO-based devices (8.46% PCE).
Conclusions:
- Sn-doped ZnO (ZTO) is a highly effective electron transport material for organic solar cells.
- ZTO enables high device performance and stability without the need for high-temperature annealing.
- The low-temperature processability of ZTO highlights its significant potential for efficient and flexible organic solar cells.
