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Sequentially Deposited versus Conventional Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells: Interfacial Trap States, Vertical Stratification, and Exciton Dissociation

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Futscher, MH 
Lami, V 
Kosasih, FU 
Cho, C 

Abstract

Bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) non-fullerene organic solar cells prepared from sequentially deposited donor and acceptor layers (sq-BHJ) have recently been promising to be highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and compatible with large area and roll-to-toll fabrication. However, the related photophysics at donor-acceptor interface and the vertical heterogeneity of donor-acceptor distribution, critical for exciton dissociation and device performance, are largely unexplored. Herein, steady-state and time-resolved optical and electrical techniques are employed to characterize the interfacial trap states. Correlation with the luminescent efficiency of interfacial states and its non-radiative recombination, interfacial trap states are characterized to be about 50% more populated in the sq-BHJ than as-cast BHJ (c-BHJ), which probably limits the device voltage output. Cross-sectional energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy depth profiling directly vizualize the donor-acceptor vertical stratification with a precision of 1-2 nm. From the proposed "needle" model, the high exciton dissociation efficiency is rationalized. Our study highlights the promise of sequential deposition to fabricate efficient solar cells, and points towards improving the voltage output and overall device performance via eliminating interfacial trap states.

Description

Keywords

exciton dissociation, nonfullerene acceptors, sequential deposition, trap states, vertical stratification

Journal Title

Advanced Energy Materials

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1614-6832
1614-6840

Volume Title

9

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/M005143/1)
Royal Society (RG140472)
European Research Council (639750)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P024947/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/S019367/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/R00661X/1)