Large-Area Nonfullerene Organic Photovoltaic Modules with a High Certified Power Conversion Efficiency

Area of Science:

• Organic Photovoltaics (OPV)
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Commercialization of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) requires large-area modules with high performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Blade coating offers a scalable solution-processing technique for fabricating OPV modules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate large-area (216 cm²) solution-processed conventional and inverted OPV modules using blade coating.
• To investigate the impact of interfacial layer concentration on OPV module performance.
• To evaluate OPV modules using both novel (PM6:Y6) and commercially available (PV-X Plus) photoactive layers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of large-area OPV modules via blade coating, controlling film uniformity by adjusting parameters.
• Optimization of interfacial layer solution concentrations.
• Performance characterization of conventional and inverted OPV modules.

Main Results:

• Conventional OPV modules (PM6:Y6) with TASiW-12 achieved a certified PCE of 9.10%.
• Inverted OPV modules (PM6:Y6) with polyethylenimine (PEI) achieved a certified PCE of 11.27%.
• Inverted OPV modules using PV-X Plus reached a PCE of 8.52%, utilizing environmentally friendly *o*-xylene solvent.

Conclusions:

• Blade-coated inverted OPV modules demonstrate high power conversion efficiencies, particularly with PEI interfacial layers.
• The use of halogen-free solvents like *o*-xylene for commercially available photoactive layers enhances the environmental sustainability of industrial production.
• Achieving high-performance, large-area OPV modules is feasible through optimized blade coating and interfacial engineering.