Scott E. Watkins

Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Containing Polymers for High-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors and Organic Photovoltaic Devices

We report the synthesis and polymerization of a novel thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole-based monomer. Copolymerization with thiophene afforded a polymer with a maximum hole mobility of 1.95 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), which is the highest mobility from a polymer-based OFET reported to date. Bulk-heterojunction solar cells comprising this polymer and PC(71)BM gave a power conversion efficiency of 5.4%.

Indacenodithiophene Semiconducting Polymers for High-Performance, Air-Stable Transistors

High-performance, solution-processed transistors fabricated from semiconducting polymers containing indacenodithiohene repeat units are described. The bridging functions on the backbone contribute to suppressing large-scale crystallization in thin films. However, charge carrier mobilities of up to 1 cm(2)/(V s) for a benzothiadiazole copolymer were reported and, coupled with both ambient stability and long-wavelength absorption, make this family of polymers particularly attractive for application in next-generation organic optoelectronics.

Toward Large Scale Roll‐to‐Roll Production of Fully Printed Perovskite Solar Cells

Fully printed perovskite solar cells are demonstrated with slot-die coating, a scalable printing method. A sequential slot-die coating process is developed to produce efficient perovskite solar cells and to be used in a large-scale roll-to-roll printing process. All layers excluding the electrodes are printed and devices demonstrate up to 11.96% power conversion efficiency. It is also demonstrated that the new process can be used in roll-to-roll production.

Size-Dependent Valence and Conduction Band-Edge Energies of Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Through the use of photoelectron spectroscopy in air (PESA), we investigate the size-dependent valence and conduction band-edge energies of CdSe, CdTe, PbS, and PbSe semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). The results are compared to those of previous studies, based on differing experimental methods, and to theoretical calculations based on k·p theory and state-of-the-art atomistic semiempirical pseudopotential modeling. To accurately map out the energy level landscapes of QDs as a function of size, the QDs must be passivated by comparable surface chemistries. This is highlighted by studying the effect of surface chemistry on the valence band-edge energy in an ensemble of 4.7 nm CdSe QDs. An energy level shift as large as 0.35 eV is observed for this system through modification of surface chemistry alone. This shift is significantly larger than the size-dependent valence band-edge shift that is observed when comparable surface chemistries are used.

Organic Solar Cells Using a High‐Molecular‐Weight Benzodithiophene–Benzothiadiazole Copolymer with an Efficiency of 9.4%

A high molecular weight donor-acceptor conjugated polymer is synthesized using the Suzuki polycondensation method. Using this polymer, a single-junction bulk-heterojunction solar cell is fabricated giving a power conversion efficiency of 9.4% using a fullerene-modified ZnO interlayer at the cathode contact.

Solution-Processed Sintered Nanocrystal Solar Cells via Layer-by-Layer Assembly

Solar cells made by high temperature and vacuum processes from inorganic semiconductors are at a perceived cost disadvantage when compared with solution-processed systems such as organic and dye-sensitized solar cells. We demonstrate that totally solution processable solar cells can be fabricated from inorganic nanocrystal inks in air at temperature as low as 300 °C. Focusing on a CdTe/ZnO thin-film system, we report solar cells that achieve power conversion efficiencies of 6.9% with greater than 90% internal quantum efficiency. In our approach, nanocrystals are deposited from solution in a layer-by-layer process. Chemical and thermal treatments between layers induce large scale grain formation, turning the 4 nm CdTe particles into pinhole-free films with an optimized average crystallite size of ∼70 nm. Through capacitance-voltage measurements we demonstrate that the CdTe layer is fully depleted which enables the charge carrier collection to be maximized.

Low band gap selenophene – diketopyrrolopyrrole polymers exhibiting high and balanced ambipolar performance in bottom-gate transistors

We report the synthesis of a selenophene–diketopyrrolopyrrole monomer and its co-polymerisation with selenophene and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene monomers by Stille coupling. The resulting low band gap polymers exhibit ambipolar charge transport in organic field effect transistors. High and balanced electron and hole mobilities in excess of 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 were observed in bottom-gate, bottom-contact devices, suggesting that selenophene inclusion is a promising strategy for the development of ambipolar organic semiconductors.

Random benzotrithiophene-based donor-acceptor copolymers for efficient organic photovoltaic devices

A series of benzotrithiophene-containing random terpolymers for polymer solar cells is reported. Through variations of the two other components in the terpolymers, the absorption profile and the frontier energy levels are optimized and maximum power conversion efficiencies are nearly doubled (5.14%) relative to the parent alternating copolymer.

Determination of energy level alignment at interfaces of hybrid and organic solar cells under ambient environment

Device function in organic electronics is critically governed by the transport of charge across interfaces of dissimilar materials. Accurate measurements of energy level positions in organic electronic devices are therefore necessary for assessing the viability of new materials and optimizing device performance. In contrast to established methods that are used in solution or vacuum environments, here we combine Kelvin probe measurements performed in ambient environments to obtain work function values with photoelectron spectroscopy in air to obtain ionization potential, so that a complete energy level diagram for organic semiconductors can be determined. We apply this new approach to study commonly used electron donor and acceptor materials in organic photovoltaics (OPV), including poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and ZnO, as well as examine new materials. Band alignments across the entire OPV devices are constructed and compared with actual device performance. The ability to determine interfacial electronic properties in the devices enables us to answer the outstanding question: why previous attempts to make OPV devices using 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) (TIPS)-pentacene as the electron donor were not successful.

Systematic Improvement in Charge Carrier Mobility of Air Stable Triarylamine Copolymers

The electrical performance of organic semiconducting polymers in field-effect transistor devices is now sufficient for initial low complexity circuit applications. To achieve high performance, either operation in an inert atmosphere or a hydrophobic surface treatment and annealing step is typically required. In this communication we report a strategy to prepare fully air stable, amorphous semiconducting polymers which can achieve charge carrier mobilities in the range of 0.04 cm(2)/(V s), remaining over a period of over 3 months in ambient conditions.