Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive

Jinwei Chen; Yiwen Wang; Lei Wang; Francis R. Lin; Chenyang Han; Xiao Ma; Jialu Zheng; Zhao Li; Juan Antonio Zapien; Huanhuan Gao; Alex K.-Y. Jen

doi:10.1002/smtd.202400172

Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive

Jinwei Chen
, Yiwen Wang
, Lei Wang
, Francis R. Lin
, Chenyang Han
, Xiao Ma
, Jialu Zheng
, Zhao Li
, Juan Antonio Zapien^*
, Huanhuan Gao^*
, Alex K.-Y. Jen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

2 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Delicately manipulating nanomorphology is recognized as a vital and effective approach to enhancing the performance and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complete removal of solvent additives with high boiling points is typically necessary to maintain the operational stability of the device. In this study, two commercially available organic intermediates, namely thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) and 3,6-dibromothieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTB) are introduced, as solid additives in OSCs. The theoretical simulations and experimental results indicate that TT and TTB may exhibit stronger intermolecular interactions with the acceptor Y6 and donor PM6, respectively. This suggests that the solid additives (SAs) can selectively intercalate between Y6 and PM6 molecules, thereby improving the packing order and crystallinity. As a result, the TT-treated PM6:Y6 system exhibits a favorable morphology, improved charge carrier mobility, and minimal charge recombination loss. These characteristics contribute to an impressive efficiency of 17.75%. Furthermore, the system demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (T₈₀ > 2800 h at 65 °C) and outstanding photostability. The universal applicability of TT treatment is confirmed in OSCs employing D18:L8-BO, achieving a significantly higher PCE of 18.3%. These findings underscore the importance of using appropriate solid additives to optimize the blend morphology of OSCs, thereby improving photovoltaic performance and thermal stability. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Original language	English
Article number	2400172
Journal	Small Methods
Volume	8
Issue number	11
Online published	29 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202400172
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 2024

Funding

J.C. and Y.W. contributed equally to this work. A.K.-Y.J. thanks the sponsorship of the Lee Shau-Kee Chair Professor (Materials Science) and the support from the APRC Grants (9380086, 9610419, 9610492, and 9610508) of the City University of Hong Kong, the TCFS Grant (GHP/018/20SZ) and MRP Grant (MRP/040/21X) from the Innovation and Technology Commission of Hong Kong, the Green Tech Fund (202020164) from the Environment and Ecology Bureau of Hong Kong, the GRF grants (11307621 and 11316422) from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (SGDX20201103095412040), Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research (2019B030302007), and the Guangzhou Huangpu Technology Bureau (2022GH02). J.A.Z. thanks to the support of a GRF Grant (CityU 11215121) from the University Grants Committee. H.G. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Hong Kong Scholar program (XJ2021-038), the Young Talent Fund of Xi'an Association for Science and Technology (959202313080), the Postgraduate Innovation and Practical Ability Training Program of Xi'an Shiyou University (YCS22213147). Z.L. greatly acknowledges the support from the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (Program No. 2022JQ-109).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

high efficiencies
high stability
morphology regulation
organic solar cells
solid additive

Publisher's Copyright Statement

COPYRIGHT TERMS OF DEPOSITED POSTPRINT FILE: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Chen, J., Wang, Y., Wang, L., Lin, F. R., Han, C., Ma, X., Zheng, J., Li, Z., Zapien, J. A., Gao, H., & Jen, A. K.- Y. (2024). Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive. Small Methods, 8(11), Article 2400172., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202400172.
This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

Access Output

10.1002/smtd.202400172

229073284.pdfPost-print, 3.74 MB

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

@article{ef2aae3a5e214671b7ef7193ab12c7b9,

title = "Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive",

abstract = "Delicately manipulating nanomorphology is recognized as a vital and effective approach to enhancing the performance and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complete removal of solvent additives with high boiling points is typically necessary to maintain the operational stability of the device. In this study, two commercially available organic intermediates, namely thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) and 3,6-dibromothieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTB) are introduced, as solid additives in OSCs. The theoretical simulations and experimental results indicate that TT and TTB may exhibit stronger intermolecular interactions with the acceptor Y6 and donor PM6, respectively. This suggests that the solid additives (SAs) can selectively intercalate between Y6 and PM6 molecules, thereby improving the packing order and crystallinity. As a result, the TT-treated PM6:Y6 system exhibits a favorable morphology, improved charge carrier mobility, and minimal charge recombination loss. These characteristics contribute to an impressive efficiency of 17.75\%. Furthermore, the system demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (T80 > 2800 h at 65 °C) and outstanding photostability. The universal applicability of TT treatment is confirmed in OSCs employing D18:L8-BO, achieving a significantly higher PCE of 18.3\%. These findings underscore the importance of using appropriate solid additives to optimize the blend morphology of OSCs, thereby improving photovoltaic performance and thermal stability. {\textcopyright} 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.",

keywords = "high efficiencies, high stability, morphology regulation, organic solar cells, solid additive",

author = "Jinwei Chen and Yiwen Wang and Lei Wang and Lin, \{Francis R.\} and Chenyang Han and Xiao Ma and Jialu Zheng and Zhao Li and Zapien, \{Juan Antonio\} and Huanhuan Gao and Jen, \{Alex K.-Y.\}",

year = "2024",

month = nov,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1002/smtd.202400172",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

number = "11",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive

AU - Chen, Jinwei

AU - Wang, Yiwen

AU - Wang, Lei

AU - Lin, Francis R.

AU - Han, Chenyang

AU - Ma, Xiao

AU - Zheng, Jialu

AU - Li, Zhao

AU - Zapien, Juan Antonio

AU - Gao, Huanhuan

AU - Jen, Alex K.-Y.

PY - 2024/11/20

Y1 - 2024/11/20

N2 - Delicately manipulating nanomorphology is recognized as a vital and effective approach to enhancing the performance and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complete removal of solvent additives with high boiling points is typically necessary to maintain the operational stability of the device. In this study, two commercially available organic intermediates, namely thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) and 3,6-dibromothieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTB) are introduced, as solid additives in OSCs. The theoretical simulations and experimental results indicate that TT and TTB may exhibit stronger intermolecular interactions with the acceptor Y6 and donor PM6, respectively. This suggests that the solid additives (SAs) can selectively intercalate between Y6 and PM6 molecules, thereby improving the packing order and crystallinity. As a result, the TT-treated PM6:Y6 system exhibits a favorable morphology, improved charge carrier mobility, and minimal charge recombination loss. These characteristics contribute to an impressive efficiency of 17.75%. Furthermore, the system demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (T80 > 2800 h at 65 °C) and outstanding photostability. The universal applicability of TT treatment is confirmed in OSCs employing D18:L8-BO, achieving a significantly higher PCE of 18.3%. These findings underscore the importance of using appropriate solid additives to optimize the blend morphology of OSCs, thereby improving photovoltaic performance and thermal stability. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

AB - Delicately manipulating nanomorphology is recognized as a vital and effective approach to enhancing the performance and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complete removal of solvent additives with high boiling points is typically necessary to maintain the operational stability of the device. In this study, two commercially available organic intermediates, namely thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) and 3,6-dibromothieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTB) are introduced, as solid additives in OSCs. The theoretical simulations and experimental results indicate that TT and TTB may exhibit stronger intermolecular interactions with the acceptor Y6 and donor PM6, respectively. This suggests that the solid additives (SAs) can selectively intercalate between Y6 and PM6 molecules, thereby improving the packing order and crystallinity. As a result, the TT-treated PM6:Y6 system exhibits a favorable morphology, improved charge carrier mobility, and minimal charge recombination loss. These characteristics contribute to an impressive efficiency of 17.75%. Furthermore, the system demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (T80 > 2800 h at 65 °C) and outstanding photostability. The universal applicability of TT treatment is confirmed in OSCs employing D18:L8-BO, achieving a significantly higher PCE of 18.3%. These findings underscore the importance of using appropriate solid additives to optimize the blend morphology of OSCs, thereby improving photovoltaic performance and thermal stability. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

KW - high efficiencies

KW - high stability

KW - morphology regulation

KW - organic solar cells

KW - solid additive

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85194548781

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85194548781#tab=impact

U2 - 10.1002/smtd.202400172

DO - 10.1002/smtd.202400172

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2366-9608

VL - 8

JO - Small Methods

JF - Small Methods

IS - 11

M1 - 2400172

ER -

Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

GRF: Molecular Engineering of 1D Hybrid Perovskites for Improving the Performance and Stability of Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

ITF: Development of Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cell with Safe-to-Use

GTF_EPD: Development of Printable Perovskite Solar Cells for Transformative Clean Energy and Sustainable Society

Cite this

Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Molecular Engineering of 1D Hybrid Perovskites for Improving the Performance and Stability of Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

ITF: Development of Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cell with Safe-to-Use

GTF_EPD: Development of Printable Perovskite Solar Cells for Transformative Clean Energy and Sustainable Society

Cite this