In Situ Condensation of Organosilane Crosslinkers for Ambient-Processed Inverted Organic Solar Cells with 18.29%...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Industrial production of organic solar cells (OSCs) relies on ambient fabrication processes.
• Achieving high efficiency and long-term stability in OSCs under ambient conditions remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for fabricating efficient and stable inverted OSCs under ambient conditions.
• To introduce vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) as an organosilane crosslinker for stabilizing the active layer.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) as an organosilane crosslinker.
• Hydrolysis and condensation of VTMS in air to form a "Si─O─Si" crosslinking network.
• Fabrication and characterization of inverted OSC devices with and without VTMS.

Main Results:

• VTMS incorporation stabilized the bulk heterojunction film, improving molecular packing and charge transport.
• The VTMS-modified inverted OSC achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.29%, compared to 16.82% for the pristine device.
• Optimized devices showed excellent stability, retaining over 90% of initial PCE after prolonged exposure to humidity and heat.

Conclusions:

• In situ condensation of organosilanes effectively mitigates moisture-induced degradation in OSCs.
• VTMS enables the fabrication of highly efficient and stable inverted OSCs under ambient conditions.
• This approach represents a significant advancement for the industrial production of OSCs.