Dr Junke Wang

Abstract:

Electron transport layers (ETLs) placed between the electrodes and a photoactive layer can enhance the performance of organic solar cells but also impose limitations. Most ETLs are ultrathin films, and their deposition can disturb the morphology of the photoactive layers, complicate device fabrication, raise cost, and also affect device stability. To fully overcome such drawbacks, efficient organic solar cells that operate without an ETL are preferred. In this study, a new small-molecule electron donor (H31) based on a thiophene-substituted benzodithiophene core unit with trialkylsilyl side chains is designed and synthesized. Blending H31 with the electron acceptor Y6 gives solar cells with power conversion efficiencies exceeding 13% with and without 2,9-bis[3-(dimethyloxidoamino)propyl]anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d'e'f ']diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10(2H,9H)-tetrone (PDINO) as the ETL. The ETL-free cells deliver a superior shelf life compared to devices with an ETL. Small-molecule donor-acceptor blends thus provide interesting perspectives for achieving efficient, reproducible, and stable device architectures without electrode interlayers.

Abstract:

Perovskite semiconductors hold a unique promise in developing multijunction solar cells with high-efficiency and low-cost. Besides design constraints to reduce optical and electrical losses, integrating several very different perovskite absorber layers in a multijunction cell imposes a great processing challenge. Here, we report a versatile two-step solution process for high-quality 1.73 eV wide-, 1.57 eV mid-, and 1.23 eV narrow-bandgap perovskite films. Based on the development of robust and low-resistivity interconnecting layers, we achieve power conversion efficiencies of above 19% for monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells with limited loss of potential energy and fill factor. In a combination of 1.73 eV, 1.57 eV, and 1.23 eV perovskite sub-cells, we further demonstrate a power conversion efficiency of 16.8% for monolithic all-perovskite triple-junction solar cells.

Abstract:

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells have recently emerged as one of the most promising low-cost photovoltaic technologies. The remarkable progress of perovskite photovoltaics is closely related to advances in interfacial engineering and development of charge selective interlayers. Herein, we present the synthesis and characterization of a fused azapolyheteroaromatic small molecule, namely anthradi-7-azaindole (ADAI), with outstanding performance as a hole-transporting layer in perovskite solar cells with inverted architecture. Its molecular arrangement, induced by hydrogen-bond-directed self-assembly, favors a suitable morphology of the perovskite layer, reducing the effects of recombination as revealed by light intensity dependence, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence studies.