TFB:TPDSi2 interfacial layer usable in organic photovoltaic cells
AssigneeNorthwestern University
InventorsIobin J. Marks, Alexander W. Hains
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Abstract
The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a solar cell. In one embodiment, the solar cell includes an anode; an active organic layer comprising an electron-donating organic material and an electron-accepting organic material; and an interfacial layer formed between the anode and active organic layer, where the interfacial layer comprises a hole-transporting polymer characterized with a hole-mobility higher than that of the electron-donating organic material in the active organic layer, and a small molecule that has a high hole-mobility and is capable of crosslinking on contact with air.
Claims17
A solar cell, comprising:
- a. an anode;
- b. an active organic layer comprising an electron-donating organic material and an electron-accepting organic material;
- and
- c. an interfacial layer formed between the anode and active organic layer, wherein the interfacial layer comprises a hole-transporting polymer characterized with a hole-mobility higher than that of the electron-donating organic material in the active organic layer, and a small molecule characterized with a hole-mobility higher than that of the electron-donating organic material in the active organic layer and capable of crosslinking on contact with air, wherein the interfacial layer is adapted such that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels of the hole-transporting polymer and the small molecule are aligned with the HOMO level of the electron-donating organic material in the active organic layer so that holes generated in the active organic layer are able to travel through the interfacial layer to collection at the anode without an energetic barrier, wherein the hole-transporting polymer comprises poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-N-(4-(3-methylpropyl))diphenylamine) (TFB), and wherein the small molecule comprises 4,4′-bis[(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)phenylamino]biphenyl (TPDSi2).
An organic photovoltaic device, comprising:
- one or more solar cells, each solar cell comprising:
- a. a transparent substrate;
- b. a tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) or other transparent conducting anode formed on the transparent substrate;
- c. an interfacial layer formed on the ITO anode, the interfacial layer comprising poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-N-(4-(3-methylpropyl))diphenylamine) (TFB) and 4,4′-bis[(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)phenylamino]biphenyl(TPDSi2);
- d. an active organic layer formed on the interfacial layer, the active organic layer comprising poly(2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyl-octyloxy))-p-phenylene vinylene (MDMO-PPV) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM);
- e. a lithium fluoride (LiF) layer formed on the active organic layer;
- and
- f. an aluminum (Al) cathode formed on the LiF layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.