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High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells Employing Rhodamines as Cathode Interfacial Layers
Wang Li1,2, Zhiyang Liu1,2, Rongjuan Yang1
1Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Ningbo 315201, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 27, 2017
Summary
Low-cost rhodamines serve as efficient cathode interfacial layers (CILs) for polymer solar cells (PSCs). These water-soluble rhodamine CILs boost PSC performance, achieving a remarkable 10.39% power conversion efficiency (PCE).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Developing cost-effective interfacial materials is key for scalable polymer solar cell (PSC) fabrication.
- Traditional cathode interfacial layers (CILs) can be complex or expensive to process.
- Water- and alcohol-soluble materials offer simpler processing routes for PSCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of low-cost rhodamines as cathode interfacial layers (CILs) in polymer solar cells (PSCs).
- To evaluate the impact of rhodamine-based CILs on PSC performance metrics, including power conversion efficiency (PCE).
- To demonstrate the potential of rhodamines for large-area fabrication of efficient PSCs.
Main Methods:
- Rhodamine derivatives were synthesized and characterized for solubility and interfacial properties.
- Rhodamine-based materials were solution-processed as cathode interfacial layers (CILs) in PSC devices.
- The performance of PSCs with rhodamine CILs was systematically evaluated and compared to control devices.
Main Results:
- Rhodamine-based CILs effectively reduced the work function of aluminum cathodes.
- PSCs employing rhodamine CILs exhibited significantly enhanced open-circuit voltage, current density, fill factor, and PCE.
- A peak PCE of 10.39% was achieved for solution-processed rhodamine-based PSCs, outperforming Ca-based and polymeric electrolyte-based devices.
- Rhodamine CILs demonstrated a 42.3% efficiency improvement over vacuum-deposited Ca-based devices and a 21.5% improvement over complex polymeric electrolyte devices.
Conclusions:
- Economical and water-/alcohol-soluble rhodamines are highly effective as cathode interfacial layers (CILs) for polymer solar cells (PSCs).
- Rhodamine-based CILs offer a promising, cost-effective alternative for improving PSC performance and enabling large-area fabrication.
- The study highlights the strong potential of rhodamines as functional materials in the development of next-generation solar cells.
Keywords:
cathode interfacial layersconjugated zwitterionspolymer solar cellsrhodaminessolution processing
