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Crystallinity-Engineered Schiff-Base Nickel Cathode Interlayers for Thermally Stable and High-Efficiency Organic
Wenliang Li1, Tingting Wang1, Xinkang Wang2
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Film Energy Chemistry For Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory (FEC)/Institute of Polymers and Energy Chemistry (IPEC), Nanchang University, Nanchang, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 26, 2026
Summary
Schiff-base nickel complexes function as efficient cathode interlayers (CILs) for organic solar cells (OSCs). Ni-CH3 demonstrates superior performance and stability, achieving over 20% power conversion efficiency and an 816-hour T80 lifetime.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Efficient and stable cathode interlayers (CILs) are crucial for high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs).
- Schiff-base nickel complexes offer promising charge-transport and interfacial properties for OSC applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer and evaluate a library of Schiff-base nickel complexes as CILs for OSCs.
- To investigate the performance and stability of OSCs utilizing selected nickel complexes.
- To elucidate the structure-property relationships governing CIL performance.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of ten Schiff-base nickel complexes.
- Fabrication and testing of OSC devices incorporating selected CILs (Ni-Nap, Ni-Ph, Ni-CH3).
- Comprehensive structural and morphological analysis using advanced characterization techniques.
Main Results:
- Ni-CH3 as a CIL achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.31% in PM6:L8-BO OSCs and 20.01% in D18:L8-BO OSCs.
- Ni-CH3 exhibited the lowest crystallinity and superior morphological stability, resulting in a crack-free film.
- Devices with Ni-CH3 demonstrated exceptional storage stability, with a T80 lifetime exceeding 816 hours.
Conclusions:
- Schiff-base nickel complexes, particularly Ni-CH3, are effective CILs for high-performance OSCs.
- Ni-CH3 overcomes the stability challenges associated with previous Schiff-base nickel complexes in OSCs.
- This study establishes Ni-CH3 as a promising candidate for developing stable and efficient OSCs.
