Lijie Zhu

High sensitivity and fast response solution processed polymer photodetectors with polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) modified ITO electrode

Most organic photodetectors utilize a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photo-active film due to its high exciton dissociation efficiency. However, the low dark current density, a key role in determining the overall performance of photodetectors, is hardly achieved in the BHJ structure since both the donor and acceptor domains are in contact with the same electrode. The most popular strategy to overcome this problem is by fabricating bilayer or multilayer devices. However, the complicated fabrication process is a challenge for printing electronics. In this work, we demonstrate a solution processed polymer photodetector based on a poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT): (phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester) (PC61BM) blend film with polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) modified ITO electrode. The transparent PEIE efficiently blocks the unnecessary electronic charge injection between the active film and the electrode, which dramatically decrease the dark current. Under illumination, the photoexcited charges accumulated in the PEIE modified ITO region finally can tunnel through the barrier with the help of the applied reverse bias, leading to a large photocurrent. Therefore, the resulting polymer photodetector shows a 2.48 × 104 signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under -0.3 V bias and an 11.4 MHz bandwidth across the visible spectra under a small reverse bias of 0.5 V. The maximum EQE of 3250% in the visible wavelength is obtained for the polymer photodetector at -1 V under 370 nm (3.07 μW/cm2) illumination. This solution processed polymer photodetector manufacturing is highly compatible with the flexible, low-cost, and large area organic electronic technologies.

Ligand-free rutile and anatase TiO2 nanocrystals as electron extraction layers for high performance inverted polymer solar cells

Ligand-free rutile and anatase TiO2 nanocrystals have been synthesized through a hydrolytic sol–gel reaction. The morphology, crystal structure, elemental composition and band structure of the obtained nanocrystals are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. These two kinds of nanocrystals could serve as electron extraction layers for improving the performance in inverted polymer solar cells. Compared with the device fabricated by using amorphous TiO2 (6.11%) and rutile TiO2 (6.93%), the device based on anatase TiO2 shows a significant enhancement in power conversion efficiency (7.85%). Meanwhile, the ideal current–voltage model for a single heterojunction solar cell is applied to clarify the junction property of the cell. The model demonstrates that the device based on anatase TiO2 has effective electron extraction and hole-blocking properties.

High sensitivity, fast response and low operating voltage organic photodetectors by incorporating a water/alcohol soluble conjugated polymer anode buffer layer

Low dark current density plays a key role in determining the overall performance of organic photodetectors (OPDs). However, both the donor domains and acceptor domains in the bulk heterojunction, which has high exciton dissociation efficiency, are in contact with the two electrodes. Therefore, the undesirable charge injection from the electrodes to the active layer is hard to avoid, leading to a high dark current density in most OPDs. In this work, we fabricate the OPDs based on a conventional poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/(phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester) (PC61BM) bulk heterojunction. By incorporating a water/alcohol soluble conjugated polymer (WSCP), poly[(9,9-bis(3′-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN), interlayer between the anode and the active layer, the dark current density is effectively reduced from 0.07 mA cm−2 to 1.92 × 10−5 mA cm−2 under a −0.5 V bias. The resulting OPDs show a 1.93 × 105 signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a 10 MHz bandwidth, and a 9.10 × 1012 Jones detectivity at a low reverse bias of −0.5 V (at 550 nm). Our research provides a promising way for high performance OPDs.

Synthesis of ultrathin two-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite nanosheets for polymer field-effect transistors

In this study, free-standing phenylethylammonium lead halide perovskite (i.e. (PEA)2PbX4 (PEA = C8H9NH3, X = Cl, Br, and I)) nanosheets (NSs) with few-layer thickness were synthesized using a facile antisolvent method. The as-prepared (PEA)2PbX4 NSs could be well-dispersed in organic solvents such as toluene and hexane. By incorporating the (PEA)2PbX4 NSs into poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in toluene, (PEA)2PbX4 NSs: P3HT composite films were fabricated as channel layers for field-effect transistors (FETs) through spin coating. All of the resultant FETs show promising hole transport and current saturation behaviour at room temperature. Notably, the FET based on (PEA)2PbI4 NSs: P3HT exhibited the best hole mobility, μh, of 1.43 × 10−1 cm2 V−1 s−1 and threshold voltage, Vth, of 5.19 V. These results pave a new way for the application of 2D organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite NSs as channel materials in high-performance FETs.

Temperature dependent amplified spontaneous emission of vacuum annealed perovskite films

Hybrid organic–inorganic halide perovskite crystals exhibit potential applications in amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) devices. The enhancement of the photoluminescence (PL) and full width at half maximum (FWHM) with the temperature dependent phase transition are beneficial to investigate the low threshold of ASE devices. However, the ASE performance and temperature dependent transition characteristics of perovskite films critically depend on morphology and crystallinity. In this paper, we propose vacuum-assisted thermal treatment to effectively prepare smooth, condense and well-crystalline MAPbI3 perovskite films. An obvious temperature dependent phase transition occurs in the vacuum annealed MAPbI3 perovskite films, leading to an increase in PL intensity, which could non-monotonically lower the threshold for ASE. Investigating the transient performance at the temperature dependent phase transition underlines an important step in optimizing these novel materials.

High-Performance Photodiode-Type Photodetectors Based on Polycrystalline Formamidinium Lead Iodide Perovskite Thin Films

Photodetectors based on three dimensional organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites have recently received significant attention. As a new type of light-harvesting materials, formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) is known to possess excellent optoelectronic properties even exceeding those of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). To date, only a few photoconductor-type photodetectors based on FAPbI3 single crystals and polycrystalline thin films in a lateral structure have been reported. Here, we demonstrate low-voltage, high-overall-performance photodiode-type photodetectors in a sandwiched geometry based on polycrystalline α-FAPbI3 thin films synthesized by a one-step solution processing method and post-annealing treatment. The photodetectors exhibit a broadband response from the near-ultraviolet to the near-infrared (330–800 nm), achieving a high on/off current ratio of 8.6 × 104 and fast response times of 7.2/19.5 μs. The devices yield a photoresponsivity of 0.95 AW−1 and a high specific detectivity of 2.8 × 1012 Jones with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) approaching 182% at −1.0 V under 650 nm illumination. The photodiode-type photodetectors based on polycrystalline α-FAPbI3 thin films with superior performance consequently show great promise for future optoelectronic device applications.

Enhanced performance of tin halide perovskite solar cell by addition of lead thiocyanate

Organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskites have attracted great attention as a new type of photovoltaic materials. However, lead (Pb) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) would cause environmental pollution in future large-scale applications. Therefore, it is imperative to find environmentally-friendly metals to replace lead. Although tin (Sn) halide perovskites can be regarded as a valid alternative to lead perovskites, their poor stability and lower conversion efficiency hinder the substitution of Sn for Pb. In this work, highly uniform and pinhole-free perovskite films were prepared by the introduction of a small amount of lead thiocyanate in precursor solutions. The CH3NH3SnI3 (MASnI3) films with Pb additive show an absorption edge of 950 nm. Besides, lead ions can depress the LUMO energy level of Sn-based perovskite materials, which is a benefit to an increase in the opencircuit voltages of PSCs. Consequently, the enhanced performance was achieved in the PSCs based on MASnI3 with a fill factor of 66%, open circuit voltage of 0.54 V and maximum power conversion efficiency of 6.03%.

Sodium chloride methanol solution spin-coating process for bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells*

The sodium chloride methanol solution process is conducted on the conventional poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells. The device exhibits a power conversion efficiency of up to 3.36%, 18% higher than that of the device without the solution process. The measurements of the active layer by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) indicate a slight phase separation in the vertical direction and a sodium chloride distributed island-like interface between the active layer and the cathode. The capacitance–voltage (C–V) and impedance spectroscopy measurements prove that the sodium chloride methanol process can reduce the electron injection barrier and improve the interfacial contact of polymer solar cells. Therefore, this one-step solution process not only optimizes the phase separation in the active layers but also forms a cathode buffer layer, which can enhance the generation, transport, and collection of photogenerated charge carriers in the device simultaneously. This work indicates that the inexpensive and non-toxic sodium chloride methanol solution process is an efficient one-step method for the low cost manufacturing of polymer solar cells.