An Alcohol-Soluble Cathode Interface Material with Low-Temperature Processing and Thickness Insensitivity for Efficient and Highly Stable Flexible Organic Solar Cells

Zhang X, Wang Y, Wang X, Guo H, Mu F, Chen Z, Wu Z, Liu C, Wang Z, Fang J, Yan L, Han Y, Luo Q, Wang H, Yang Y, Ma CQ (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 13

Pages Range: 3384-3392

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c10651

Abstract

Electron transport layers (ETLs) are crucial for achieving both high efficiency and long-term stability in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, a significant challenge in the large-area printing of flexible OSCs is ensuring that ETL materials possess both low-temperature solution processability and high thickness tolerance. In this study, an innovative alcohol-soluble polyethylenimine (PEI):1-PyCAcarboxylic Acid (1-PyCA) was developed, enabling low-temperature solution processing (60 °C) and exhibiting thickness insensitivity. By grafting the highly conjugated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1-PyCA onto PEI, a continuous electron-conjugated network is established, enhancing electrical conductivity through strong π-π interactions. Ultimately, OSCs with PyCA-PEI as the ETL reach a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.43%, a significant improvement over the PCE of 13.57% observed in PEI-based OSCs. Moreover, flexible OSCs (1 cm2) fabricated with PyCA-PEI as the ETL achieve a PCE of 14.31%, demonstrating its suitability for flexible device applications. Additionally, devices using the PyCA-PEI ETL demonstrate superior stability, maintaining 97% of their initial efficiency after 135 h in ambient air and 68% after 100 h of continuous UV light exposure.

Involved external institutions

Taiyuan University of Technology CN China (CN) Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics CN China (CN) Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI-ERN) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Guo, H., Mu, F., Chen, Z.,... Ma, C.Q. (2025). An Alcohol-Soluble Cathode Interface Material with Low-Temperature Processing and Thickness Insensitivity for Efficient and Highly Stable Flexible Organic Solar Cells. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 13(8), 3384-3392. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c10651

MLA:

Zhang, Xiaoke, et al. "An Alcohol-Soluble Cathode Interface Material with Low-Temperature Processing and Thickness Insensitivity for Efficient and Highly Stable Flexible Organic Solar Cells." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 13.8 (2025): 3384-3392.

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