Riski Titian Ginting

Highly stable and efficient inverted organic solar cells based on low-temperature solution-processed PEIE and ZnO bilayers

Highly efficient and air-stable inverted organic solar cells (IOSCs) were fabricated from solution-processed non-conjugated polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) as the polyelectrolyte, a zinc oxide (ZnO) bilayer as the electron transport layer, and an active layer of thieno[3,4-b]thiophene/benzodithiophene (PTB7) and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM). When compared to conventional ZnO thin film devices, the incorporation of ZnO with nano-ridge structures (ZnO-R) and large interfacial areas, in addition to low leakage currents, led to an enhancement in power conversion efficiency from 7.41% to 8.38%. Furthermore, the presence of a thin PEIE layer between ITO and ZnO-R not only suppressed the formation of an oxygen deficient state at the ZnO-R surface, but also improved charge carrier mobilities and prevented leakage currents. Consequently, a maximum (average) efficiency of 8.91% (8.86%) and superior air stability with approximately 65% of the initial efficiency being retained after 326 days of storage under ambient atmosphere were achieved.

Solution-Processed Ga-Doped ZnO Nanorod Arrays as Electron Acceptors in Organic Solar Cells

This paper reports the utilization of ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs) doped with various concentrations of Ga (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 at %) as electron acceptors in organic solar cells. The donor, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), was spin coated onto Ga-doped ZnO NRAs that were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, followed by the deposition of a Ag electrode by a magnetron sputtering method. Adjusting the Ga precursor concentration allowed for the control of the structural and optical properties of ZnO NRAs. The short circuit current density increased with increasing Ga concentration from 0 to 1 at %, mainly because of improved exciton dissociation and increased charge extraction. Meanwhile, the reduced charge recombination and lower hole leakage current led to an increase in the open circuit voltage with Ga concentrations up to 1 at %. The device with the optimum Ga concentration of 1 at % exhibited power conversion efficiency nearly three times higher compared to the device without Ga doping. This finding suggests that the incorporation of Ga can be a simple and effective approach to improve the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells.

Controlled Defects of Fluorine-incorporated ZnO Nanorods for Photovoltaic Enhancement

Anion passivation effect on metal-oxide nano-architecture offers a highly controllable platform for improving charge selectivity and extraction, with direct relevance to their implementation in hybrid solar cells. In current work, we demonstrated the incorporation of fluorine (F) as an anion dopant to address the defect-rich nature of ZnO nanorods (ZNR) and improve the feasibility of its role as electron acceptor. The detailed morphology evolution and defect engineering on ZNR were studied as a function of F-doping concentration (x). Specifically, the rod-shaped arrays of ZnO were transformed into taper-shaped arrays at high x. A hypsochromic shift was observed in optical energy band gap due to the Burstein-Moss effect. A substantial suppression on intrinsic defects in ZnO lattice directly epitomized the novel role of fluorine as an oxygen defect quencher. The results show that 10-FZNR/P3HT device exhibited two-fold higher power conversion efficiency than the pristine ZNR/P3HT device, primarily due to the reduced Schottky defects and charge transfer barrier. Essentially, the reported findings yielded insights on the functions of fluorine on (i) surface –OH passivation, (ii) oxygen vacancies (Vo) occupation and (iii) lattice oxygen substitution, thereby enhancing the photo-physical processes, carrier mobility and concentration of FZNR based device.

Degradation mechanism of planar-perovskite solar cells: correlating evolution of iodine distribution and photocurrent hysteresis

In this report, we demonstrate that moisture/O2 in ambient air is the major issue for the photovoltaic performance degradation and severe photocurrent hysteresis of non-encapsulated planar-perovskite solar cells. Consequently, this leads to difficulty in determining the real power conversion efficiency (PCE). Upon longer storage time, the evidence of a small amount of iodine in the hole transport layer (HTL) led to hindering the charge transport from the HTL to the anode, thus resulting in the decrease of short-circuit current density and fill factor. Meanwhile, the transient chronoamperometry result suggests that the increase of hysteresis with storage time is ascribed to the changes of activation energy. It is further supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profile analysis, which revealed that penetration of moisture/O2 caused the shifts of iodine distribution within the perovskite layer after aging time of >72 h. Remarkably, effective moisture/O2 passivation can be achieved by combination of polyimide and UV-cured polymer as a novel encapsulation process, which exhibited an impressive stabilized PCE of above 14% (retained 97% of its initial efficiency) and simultaneously maintained the hysteresis up to ∼1000 h.

Plasmonic Effect of Gold Nanostars in Highly Efficient Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells

Herein, a novel strategy is presented for enhancing light absorption by incorporating gold nanostars (Au NSs) into both the active layer of organic solar cells (OSCs) and the rear-contact hole transport layer of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We demonstrate that the power conversion efficiencies of OSCs and PSCs with embedded Au NSs are improved by 6 and 14%, respectively. We find that pegylated Au NSs are greatly dispersable in a chlorobenzene solvent, which enabled complete blending of Au NSs with the active layer. The plasmonic contributions and accelerated charge transfer are believed to improve the short-circuit current density and the fill factor. This study demonstrates the roles of plasmonic nanoparticles in the improved optical absorption, where the improvement in OSCs was attributed to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and in PSCs was attributed to both SPR and the backscattering effect. Additionally, devices including Au NSs exhibited a better charge separation/transfer, reduced charge recombination rate, and efficient charge transport. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the roles of plasmonic Au NS particles in OSCs and PSCs, including an insightful approach for the further development of high-performance optoelectronic devices.

Ultra-Smooth, Fully Solution-Processed Large-Area Transparent Conducting Electrodes for Organic Devices

A novel approach for the fabrication of ultra-smooth and highly bendable substrates consisting of metal grid-conducting polymers that are fully embedded into transparent substrates (ME-TCEs) was successfully demonstrated. The fully printed ME-TCEs exhibited ultra-smooth surfaces (surface roughness ~1.0 nm), were highly transparent (~90% transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm), highly conductive (sheet resistance ~4 Ω ◻−1), and relatively stable under ambient air (retaining ~96% initial resistance up to 30 days). The ME-TCE substrates were used to fabricate flexible organic solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes exhibiting devices efficiencies comparable to devices fabricated on ITO/glass substrates. Additionally, the flexibility of the organic devices did not degrade their performance even after being bent to a bending radius of ~1 mm. Our findings suggest that ME-TCEs are a promising alternative to indium tin oxide and show potential for application toward large-area optoelectronic devices via fully printing processes.

Two-dimensional CdS intercalated ZnO nanorods: a concise study on interfacial band structure modification

The controllable growth of metal sulfide–metal oxide based nanomaterials with a tunable band gap structure is vital in the fabrication of new generation optoelectronic devices. In this paper, two-dimensional hierarchical CdS/ZnO nanorod arrays were successfully grown via a low temperature hydrothermal-SILAR method. A concise mechanism related to the surface and band gap modification on the CdS/ZnO nanorods was investigated under various CdS deposition cycles (N). The diameter and surface roughness properties of the sample were found to be linearly dependent on the value of N. A bathochromic shift in the optical energy band gap revealed the quantum size effects of the CdS/ZnO nanorods, as well as the induced interface band state and energy band split in the ZnO band state. An impressive improvement in the crystallinity of the sample was also observed under the CdS treatment. The correlation between the optical band gap and photovoltaic efficiency was evaluated. The results proved that the ZnO nanorod/CdS devices exhibited a threefold higher power conversion efficiency in comparison to a pristine ZnO nanorod device.

MEH-PPV and PCBM Solution Concentration Dependence of Inverted-Type Organic Solar Cells Based on Eosin-Y-Coated ZnO Nanorod Arrays

The influence of polymer solution concentration on the performance of chlorobenzene- (CB-) and chloroform- (CF-) based inverted-type organic solar cells has been investigated. The organic photoactive layers consisted of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) and (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were spin coated from CF with concentrations of 4, 6, and 8 mg/mL and from CB with concentrations of 6, 8, and 10 mg/mL onto Eosin-Y-coated ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs). Fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) and silver (Ag) were used as electron collecting electrode and hole collecting electrode, respectively. Experimental results showed that the short circuit current density and power conversion efficiency increased with decrease of solution concentration for both CB and CF devices, which could be attributed to reducing charge recombination in thinner photoactive layer and larger contact area between the rougher photoactive layer and Ag contact. However, the open circuit voltage decreased with decreasing solution concentration due to increase of leakage current from ZnO NRAs to Ag as the ZnO NRAs were not fully covered by the polymer blend. The highest power conversion efficiencies of % and % were achieved at the respective lowest solution concentrations of CB and CF.

All-solid-state flexible supercapacitor based on spray-printed polyester/PEDOT:PSS electrodes

ABSTRACT We report on a one-step spray printing technique to fabricate large-area flexible electrodes using poly (3, 4-ethylene dioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and polyester cloth. The H3PO4 treated PEDOT:PSS electrodes exhibit an enhanced capacitance, high rate capability and wide voltage window (0–1.6 V). The printed polyester/PEDOT:PSS electrode treated with H3PO4 exhibits a specific capacitance of ∼40 F g−1 at 40 mV s−1. A large area device exhibits a high iR drop of 0.23 V, which can be minimized using conducting materials such as carbon cloth or steel mesh in place of polyester cloth.

Enhanced photovoltaic performance of CdS-sensitized inverted organic solar cells prepared via a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method

One-dimensional ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass by hydrothermal method were modified with cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) as an electron transport layer (ETL) in order to enhance the photovoltaic performance of inverted organic solar cell (IOSC). In present study, CdS QDs were deposited on ZNRs using a Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction method (SILAR) method. In typical procedures, IOSCs were fabricated by spin-coating the P3HT:PC61BM photoactive layer onto the as-prepared ZNRs/CdS QDs. The results of current-voltage (I-V) measurement under illumination shows that the FTO/ZNRs/CdS QDs/ P3HT:PC61BM/ PEDOT: PSS/Ag IOSC achieved a higher power conversion efficiency (4.06 %) in comparison to FTO/ZNRs/P3HT:PC61BM/PEDOT: PSS/Ag (3.6 %). Our findings suggest that the improved open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current density (Jsc) of ZNRs/CdS QDs devices could be attributed to enhanced electron selectivity and reduced interfacial charge carrier recombination between ZNRs and P3HT:PC61BM after the deposition of CdS QDs. The CdS QDs sensitized ZNRs reported herein exhibit great potential for advanced optoelectronic application.One-dimensional ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass by hydrothermal method were modified with cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) as an electron transport layer (ETL) in order to enhance the photovoltaic performance of inverted organic solar cell (IOSC). In present study, CdS QDs were deposited on ZNRs using a Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction method (SILAR) method. In typical procedures, IOSCs were fabricated by spin-coating the P3HT:PC61BM photoactive layer onto the as-prepared ZNRs/CdS QDs. The results of current-voltage (I-V) measurement under illumination shows that the FTO/ZNRs/CdS QDs/ P3HT:PC61BM/ PEDOT: PSS/Ag IOSC achieved a higher power conversion efficiency (4.06 %) in comparison to FTO/ZNRs/P3HT:PC61BM/PEDOT: PSS/Ag (3.6 %). Our findings suggest that the improved open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current density (Jsc) of ZNRs/CdS QDs devices could be attributed to enhanced electron selectivity and reduced interfacial charge carrie...