Naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimide (NDI)-based polymer solar cells processed by non-halogenated solvents

Guangrui Shen, Xiangzhi Li, Xia Wu, Yulong Wang, Haiquan Shan, Jiaju Xu, Xiaoyuan Liu, Zong xiang Xu, Fei Chen, Zhi Kuan Chen

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two non-fullerene acceptors, PNDIT-20 and PNDIT-16, based on naphthalenediimide (NDI) and thiophene comonomers, have been synthesized for all polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) application. The incorporation of long alkyl chains onto the NDI units endows the polymers with excellent solubility in both halogen and non-halogen solvents. Halogen-free solvents, e.g. 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (1,3,5-TMB), 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (1,2,4-TMB), and 1,2-dimethylbenzene (1,2-DMB), have been employed to fabricate all-PSCs based on PNDIT-20 or PNDIT-16 paired with a donor polymer PTB7-Th without use of additives or post-treatment. The devices using 1,2-DMB as the solvent demonstrated PCEs of 3.88% and 4.94% for PNDIT-20 and PNDIT-16, respectively, which are among the highest values reported for PNDIT-based all-PSCs produced using environmentally friendly solvent. The performance is superior than the control device fabricated from conventional but hazardous 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB). Space-charge-limited current (SCLC) measurements and active layer morphological investigation revealed that non-halogenated solvent processed devices show higher and more balanced hole and electron mobilities as well as favorable surface morphology for charge transfer. The results reported in this work suggest that non-halogenated solvents for all-PSCs processing are greatly promising for the development of high performance all-PSCs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)203-210
Number of pages8
JournalOrganic Electronics
Volume46
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Conjugated polymer
  • Low bandgap polymer
  • Non-fullerene acceptor
  • Non-halogenated solvent
  • Organic solar cells
  • Photovoltaic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Chemistry
  • Biomaterials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Materials Chemistry

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