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Redox-active ions unlock substitutional doping in halide perovskites. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023. [PMID: 37439828 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00663h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Electrical doping of metal halide perovskites (MPHs) is a key step towards the use of this efficient and cost-effective semiconductor class in modern electronics. In this work, we demonstrate n-type doping of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) by the post-fabrication introduction of Sm2+. The ionic radius of the latter is similar to that of Pb2+ and can replace it without altering the perovskite crystal lattice. It is demonstrated that once incorporated, Sm2+ can act as a dopant by undergoing oxidation to Sm3+. This results in the release of a negative charge that n-dopes the material, resulting in an increase of conductivity of almost 3 orders of magnitude. Unlike substitution doping with heterovalent ions, furtive dopants do not require counterions to maintain charge neutrality with respect to the ions they replace and are thus more likely to be incorporated into the crystalline structure. The incorporation of the dopant throughout the material is evidenced by XPS and ToF-SIMS, while the XRD pattern shows no phase separation at low and medium doping concentrations. A shift of the Fermi level towards a conduction energy of 0.52 eV confirms the doping to be n-type with a charge carrier density, calculated using the Mott-Schottky method, estimated to be nearly 1017 cm-3 for the most conductive samples. Variable-temperature conductivity experiments show that the dopant is only partially ionized at room temperature due to dopant freeze-out.
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Sub-4 nm mapping of donor-acceptor organic semiconductor nanoparticle composition. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:6126-6142. [PMID: 36939532 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr00839h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We report, for the first time, sub-4 nm mapping of donor : acceptor nanoparticle composition in eco-friendly colloidal dispersions for organic electronics. Low energy scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping has revealed the internal morphology of organic semiconductor donor : acceptor blend nanoparticles at the sub-4 nm level. A unique element was available for utilisation as a fingerprint element to differentiate donor from acceptor material in each blend system. Si was used to map the location of donor polymer PTzBI-Si in PTzBI-Si:N2200 nanoparticles, and S (in addition to N) was used to map donor polymer TQ1 in TQ1:PC71BM nanoparticles. For select material blends, synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), was demonstrated to remain as the superior chemical contrast technique for mapping organic donor : acceptor morphology, including for material combinations lacking a unique fingerprint element (e.g. PTQ10:Y6), or systems where the unique element is in a terminal functional group (unsaturated, dangling bonds) and can hence be easily damaged under the electron beam, e.g. F on PTQ10 donor polymer in the PTQ10:IDIC donor : acceptor blend. We provide both qualitative and quantitative compositional mapping of organic semiconductor nanoparticles with STEM EDX, with sub-domains resolved in nanoparticles as small as 30 nm in diameter. The sub-4 nm mapping technology reported here shows great promise for the optimisation of organic semiconductor blends for applications in organic electronics (solar cells and bioelectronics) and photocatalysis, and has further applications in organic core-shell nanomedicines.
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Organic semiconductor colloids: From the knowledge acquired in photovoltaics to the generation of solar hydrogen fuel. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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4
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Assessing the Impact of Ambient Fabrication Temperature on the Performance of Planar CH
3
NH
3
PbI
3
Perovskite Solar Cells. Eur J Inorg Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202100329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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5
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Phosphonium‐based polythiophene conjugated polyelectrolytes with different surfactant counterions: thermal properties, self‐assembly and photovoltaic performances. POLYM INT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.6088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Abstract
Development of carbon neutral and sustainable energy sources should be considered as a top priority solution for the growing worldwide energy demand. Photovoltaics are a strong candidate, more specifically, organic photovoltaics (OPV), enabling the design of flexible, lightweight, semitransparent, and low-cost solar cells. However, the active layer of OPV is, for now, mainly deposited from chlorinated solvents, harmful for the environment and for human health. Active layers processed from health and environmentally friendly solvents have over recent years formed a key focus topic of research, with the creation of aqueous dispersions of conjugated polymer nanoparticles arising. These nanoparticles are formed from organic semiconductors (molecules and macromolecules) initially designed for organic solvents. The topic of nanoparticle OPV has gradually garnered more attention, up to a point where in 2018 it was identified as a "trendsetting strategy" by leaders in the international OPV research community. Hence, this review has been prepared to provide a timely roadmap of the formation and application of aqueous nanoparticle dispersions of active layer components for OPV. We provide a thorough synopsis of recent developments in both nanoprecipitation and miniemulsion for preparing photovoltaic inks, facilitating readers in acquiring a deep understanding of the crucial synthesis parameters affecting particle size, colloidal concentration, ink stability, and more. This review also showcases the experimental levers for identifying and optimizing the internal donor-acceptor morphology of the nanoparticles, featuring cutting-edge X-ray spectromicroscopy measurements reported over the past decade. The different strategies to improve the incorporation of these inks into OPV devices and to increase their efficiency (to the current record of 7.5%) are reported, in addition to critical design choices of surfactant type and the advantages of single-component vs binary nanoparticle populations. The review naturally culminates by presenting the upscaling strategies in practice for this environmentally friendly and safer production of solar cells.
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LB1570 Structure-based design of Trifarotene, a potent and selective RAR agonist for the treatment of acne. J Invest Dermatol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.06.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Material challenges for solar cells in the twenty-first century: directions in emerging technologies. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ADVANCED MATERIALS 2018; 19:336-369. [PMID: 29707072 PMCID: PMC5917436 DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2018.1433439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Photovoltaic generation has stepped up within the last decade from outsider status to one of the important contributors of the ongoing energy transition, with about 1.7% of world electricity provided by solar cells. Progress in materials and production processes has played an important part in this development. Yet, there are many challenges before photovoltaics could provide clean, abundant, and cheap energy. Here, we review this research direction, with a focus on the results obtained within a Japan-French cooperation program, NextPV, working on promising solar cell technologies. The cooperation was focused on efficient photovoltaic devices, such as multijunction, ultrathin, intermediate band, and hot-carrier solar cells, and on printable solar cell materials such as colloidal quantum dots.
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Crucial Role of the Electron Transport Layer and UV Light on the Open-Circuit Voltage Loss in Inverted Organic Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:34131-34138. [PMID: 28945342 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b09059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the degradation mechanisms in organic photovoltaics is crucial in order to develop stable organic semiconductors and robust device architectures. The rapid loss of efficiency, referred to as burn-in, is a major issue to be addressed. This study reports on the influence of the electron transport layer (ETLs) and UV light on the drop of open-circuit voltage (Voc) for P3HT:PC60BM-based devices. The results show that Voc loss is induced by the UV and, more importantly, that the ETL can amplify it, with TiOx yielding a stronger drop than ZnO. Using impedance spectroscopy (IS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), different degradation mechanisms were identified according to whether the ETL is TiOx or ZnO. For TiOx-based devices, the formation of an interface dipole was identified, resulting in a loss of the flat-band potential (Vfb) and, thus, of the Voc. For ZnO-based devices, chemical modifications of the metal oxide and active layer at the interface were detected, resulting in a doping of the active layer which impacts the Voc. This study highlights the role of the architecture and, more specifically, of the ETL in the severity of burn-in and degradation pathways.
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Lanthanum Hexaboride As Novel Interlayer for Improving the Thermal Stability of P3HT:PCBM Organic Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:25334-25340. [PMID: 26540482 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b06475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
For efficient organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells, a low work function electrode is necessary to enhance the built-in voltage of the active layer, thereby improving the overall efficiency. Calcium is often used for this purpose in the laboratory; however, its development on a larger scale is impaired by its high reactivity with oxygen and water and the resulting low stability of solar cells under operation. The influence of a novel interlayer, lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6), on the electronic properties of OPV is studied in this work. Similarly to calcium, when LaB6 is used as an interlayer, it enhances the built-in voltage in the device, leading to a higher fill factor (FF) and optimal open circuit voltage (V(oc)). As a result, optimized LaB6-based devices present significantly improved power conversion efficiencies. More importantly, while calcium/aluminum (Ca/Al) and aluminum (Al) cathodes lose their capacity to enhance the internal electrical field during thermal aging, the LaB6/aluminum (LaB6/Al) electrode remains stable. This remarkable effect results in a highly stable V(oc) and flat-band potential during aging.
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Solution-Processed Small-Molecule Bulk Heterojunctions: Leakage Currents and the Dewetting Issue for Inverted Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:24663-24669. [PMID: 26479086 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b06964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In organic photovoltaic (PV) devices based on solution-processed small molecules, we report here that the physicochemical properties of the substrate are critical for achieving high-performances organic solar cells. Three different substrates were tested: ITO coated with PEDOT PSS, ZnO sol-gel, and ZnO nanoparticles. PV performances are found to be low when the ZnO nanoparticles layer is used. This performance loss is attributed to the formation of many dewetting points in the active layer, because of a relatively high roughness of the ZnO nanoparticles layer, compared to the other layers. We successfully circumvented this phenomenon by adding a small quantity of polystyrene (PS) in the active layer. The introduction of PS improves the quality of film forming and reduces the dark currents of solar cells. Using this method, high-efficiency devices were achieved, even in the case of substrates with higher roughness.
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Microfluidic supercritical antisolvent continuous processing and direct spray-coating of poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanoparticles for OFET devices. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:1008-11. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cc07878k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report for the first time the use of a microfluidic supercritical antisolvent process (μSAS) to synthesize semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (NPs) of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT).
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Thermal stabilisation of polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction morphology for efficient photovoltaic solar cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2014; 26:5831-5838. [PMID: 25042898 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201401062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A novel stable bisazide molecule that can freeze the bulk heterojunction morphology at its optimized layout by specifically bonding to fullerenes is reported. The concept is demonstrated with various polymers: fullerene derivatives systems enable highly thermally stable polymer solar cells.
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Solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells based on BF2–hydroxychalcone complexes. Chem Commun (Camb) 2013; 49:3555-7. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc41351a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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MoO3 Thickness, Thermal Annealing and Solvent Annealing Effects on Inverted and Direct Polymer Photovoltaic Solar Cells. MATERIALS 2012. [PMCID: PMC5449054 DOI: 10.3390/ma5122521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Several parameters of the fabrication process of inverted polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells based on titanium oxide as an electron selective layer and molybdenum oxide as a hole selective layer were tested in order to achieve efficient organic photovoltaic solar cells. Thermal annealing treatment is a common process to achieve optimum morphology, but it proved to be damageable for the performance of this kind of inverted solar cells. We demonstrate using Auger analysis combined with argon etching that diffusion of species occurs from the MoO3/Ag top layers into the active layer upon thermal annealing. In order to achieve efficient devices, the morphology of the bulk heterojunction was then manipulated using the solvent annealing technique as an alternative to thermal annealing. The influence of the MoO3 thickness was studied on inverted, as well as direct, structure. It appeared that only 1 nm-thick MoO3 is enough to exhibit highly efficient devices (PCE = 3.8%) and that increasing the thickness up to 15 nm does not change the device performance.
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Block copolymer as a nanostructuring agent for high-efficiency and annealing-free bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2012; 24:2196-201. [PMID: 22447735 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201104461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Revised: 12/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The addition of a block copolymer to the polymer/fullerene blend is a novel approach to the fabrication of organic solar cells. The block copolymer (P3HT-b-P4VP) is used as nanostructuring agent in the active layer. A significant enhancement of the cell efficiency is observed, in correlation with morphology control, both before (as-cast) and after the annealing process.
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Identification and Quantification of Defect Structures in Poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene) Derivatives Prepared via the Dithiocarbamate Precursor Route by Means of NMR Spectroscopy on 13C-Labeled Polymers. Macromolecules 2011. [DOI: 10.1021/ma200228g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Description of the nanostructured morphology of [6,6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) by XRD, DSC and solid-state NMR. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2011; 49:242-247. [PMID: 21491481 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.2741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Revised: 12/04/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
PCBM or [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester is nowadays still one of the most successful electron acceptors for plastic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic devices. In this study, a set of complementary techniques, i.e. solid-state NMR, XRD and DSC, is proposed as a fast and sensitive tool to screen the morphology of PCBM specimens with different preparation histories. Based on proton NMR relaxation decay time values, an interval can be derived that situates the average crystal dimensions and which can further be refined on the basis of XRD patterns and DSC thermograms.
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Solid-state NMR as a tool to describe and quantify the morphology of photoactive layers used in plastic solar cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.24600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Synthesis, 1H and 13C NMR assignment and electrochemical properties of novel thiophene-thiazolothiazole oligomers and polymers. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2010; 48:362-369. [PMID: 20301090 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.2593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Novel hexyl-substituted bisthiophene compounds containing a thiazolothiazole(5,4-d) unit have been explored. The molecules are soluble in common organic solvents, which would enhance their chance of possible integration in printable electronics. Synthesis and complete elucidation of the chemical structures by detailed 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy are described. This provides interesting input for chemical shift prediction software, because few experimental data on this type of compounds are available. Furthermore, the potential n-type character of these derivatives is verified using electrochemical measurements. In addition, the low-bandgap character of conjugated polymers containing the thiazolothiazole unit is demonstrated by performing an electropolymerization.
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Reactive intermediates in the initiation step of the photo-oxidation of MDMO-PPV. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.23628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Amyloglucosidase suppresses interference by glycogen in the quantification of DNA using the Hoechst 33258 dye. Biotechniques 2002; 32:1250,1252,1254,1256. [PMID: 12074153 DOI: 10.2144/02326bm07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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