Perovskite solar cells employing organic charge-transport layers

Thin-film photovoltaics play an important role in the quest for clean renewable energy. Recently, methylammonium lead halide perovskites were identified as promising absorbers for solar cells(1). In the three years since, the performance of perovskite-based solar cells has improved rapidly to reach efficiencies as high as 15%(1-10). To date, all high-efficiency perovskite solar cells reported make use of a (mesoscopic) metal oxide, such as Al2O3, TiO2, or ZrO2, which requires a high-temperature sintering process. Here, we show that methylammonium lead iodide perovskite layers, when sandwiched between two thin organic charge-transporting layers, also lead to solar cells with high power-conve…

Host–guest blue light-emitting electrochemical cells

Carbazole, a commonly used hole-transporter for organic electronics, has been modified with an imidazolium cation and a hexafluorophosphate counter-anion to give an ionic hole-transporter. It has been applied as one of the hosts in a host–guest blue light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) with the neutral blue emitter FIrPic. We have obtained efficient and bright blue LECs with an electroluminescence maximum at 474 nm and efficacy of 5 cd A−1 at a luminance of 420 cd m−2, thereby demonstrating the potential of the ionic organic charge-transporters and of the host–guest architecture for LECs.

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of Osmium−Polypyridine Complexes in Solution

We present steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy and femtosecond broadband photoluminescence up-conversion spectroscopy studies of the electronic relaxation of Os(dmbp)(3) (Os1) and Os(bpy)(2)(dpp) (Os2) in ethanol, where dmbp is 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-biypridine, bpy is 2,2'-biypridine, and dpp is 2,3-dipyridyl pyrazine. In both cases, the steady-state phosphorescence is due to the lowest (MLCT)-M-3 state, whose quantum yield we estimate to be <= 5.0 x 10(-3). For Os1, the steady-state phosphorescence lifetime is 25 ns. In both complexes, the photoluminescence excitation spectra map the absorption spectrum, pointing to an excitation wavelength-independent quantum yield. The ultrafa…

Tetrasubstituted Thieno[3,2- b]thiophenes as Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Three hole-transporting materials (HTMs) were prepared following a straightforward synthetic route by cross-linking arylamine-based ligands with a simple thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TbT) core. The novel HTMs were fully characterized with standard techniques to gain insight into their optical and electrochemical properties and were incorporated in solution-processed mesoporous (FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15 perovskite-based solar cells. The similar molecular structure of the synthesized HTMs was leveraged to investigate the role that the bridging units between the conjugated TbT core and the peripheral arylamine units plays on their properties and thereby on the photovoltaic response. A remarkable po…

High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells using Molecularly-Engineered, Thiophene-Rich,Hole-Transporting Materials: Influence of Alkyl Chain Length on Power Conversion Efficiency

The synthesis and characterization of a series of novel small-molecule hole-transporting materials (HTMs) based on an anthra[1,2-b:4,3-b′:5,6-b′′:8,7-b′′′]tetrathiophene (ATT) core are reported. The new compounds follow an easy synthetic route and have no need of expensive purification steps. The novel HTMs were tested in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of up to 18.1 % under 1 sun irradiation were 2 measured. This value is comparable with the 17.8 % efficiency obtained using spiroOMeTAD as a reference compound. Similarly, a significant quenching of the Photoluminescence in the first nanosecond is observed, indicative of effective hole transfer.Additiona…

Isomerism effect on the photovoltaic properties of benzotrithiophene-based hole-transporting materials

Engineering of inorganic–organic lead halide perovskites for photovoltaic applications has experienced significant advances in recent years. However, the use of the relatively expensive spiro-OMeTAD as a hole-transporting material (HTM) poses a challenge due to dopant-induced degradation. Herein we introduce two new three-armed and four-armed HTMs (BTT-4 and BTT-5) based on isomeric forms of benzotrithiophene (BTT). The isomerism impact on the optical, electrochemical and photophysical properties and the photovoltaic performance is systematically investigated. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) using BTT-4 and BTT-5 as HTMs show remarkable light-to-energy conversion efficiencies of 19.0% and 18.…

Dibenzoquinquethiophene- and Dibenzosexithiophene-Based Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Fused oligothiophene-based π-conjugated organic derivatives have been widely used in electronic devices. In particular, two-dimensional (2D) heteroarenes offer the possibility of broadening the scope by extending the π-conjugated framework, which endows enhanced charge transport properties due to the potential intermolecular π–π stacking. Here, the synthesis and characterization of two new small-molecule hole-transporting materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are reported. The newly custom-made compounds are based on dibenzoquinquethiophene (DBQT) and dibenzosexithiophene (DBST) cores, which are covalently linked to triphenylamine moieties to successfully afford the four-armed …

Solution processed organic light-emitting diodes using a triazatruxene crosslinkable hole transporting material.

A cross-linkable triazatruxene that leads to insoluble films upon thermal annealing at temperatures compatible with flexible substrates is presented. The films were used as the hole transporting and electron blocking layer in partially solution processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes, reaching power conversion efficiencies of 24 lm W−1, an almost 50% improvement compared to the same OLEDs without the cross-linkable hole transporting layer.

Efficient orange light-emitting electrochemical cells

We report the first bis-cyclometalated cationic iridium(III) complex with N-aryl-substituted 1H-imidazo [4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline. The complex emits yellow-orange phosphorescence with a maximum at 583 nm, a quantum yield of 43%, and an excited-state lifetime of 910 ns in argon-saturated dichloromethane. Optimized orange light-emitting electrochemical cells with the new Ir(III) complex exhibit fast turn-on, a peak luminance of 684 cd m(-2) and a peak efficacy of 6.5 cd A(-1); in 850 h of continuous operation their luminance and efficacy decrease only by 20%.

Selenophene-Based Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Two novel and simple donor-π-bridge-donor (D-π-D) hole-transporting materials (HTMs) containing two units of the p-methoxytriphenylamine (TPA) electron donor group covalently bridged by means of the 3,4-dimethoxyselenophene spacer through single and triple bonds are reported. The optoelectronic and thermal properties of the new selenium-containing HTMs have been determined using standard experimental techniques and theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The selenium-based HTMs have been incorporated in mesoporous perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in combination with the triple-cation perovskite [(FAPbI3 )0.87 (MAPbBr3 )0.13 ]0.92 [CsPbI3 ]0.08 . Limited values of power conver…

Metal-Oxide-Free Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite-Based Solar Cells: the Influence of Organic Charge Transport Layers

Metal-oxide-free methylammonium lead iodide perovskite-based solar cells are prepared using a dual-source thermal evaporation method. This method leads to high quality reproducible films with large crystal domain sizes allowing for an in depth study of the effect of perovskite film thickness and the nature of the electron and hole blocking layers on the device performance. The power conversion efficiency increases from 4.7% for a device with only an organic electron blocking layer to almost 15% when an organic hole blocking layer is also employed. In addition to the in depth study on small area cells, larger area cells (approx. 1 cm(-2)) are prepared and exhibit efficiencies in excess of 10…

A new cross-linkable 9,10-diphenylanthracene derivative as a wide bandgap host for solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes

Efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) can be obtained using multilayered architectures where the processes of charge injection, transport and recombination are separated and optimized in each layer. Processing these structures from solution requires strategies to avoid redissolution or damage of the previously deposited layers. Several reports have demonstrated the development of cross-linkable hole transport materials, while less literature describes the synthesis and applications of such wide bandgap host materials for multilayered OLEDs. In this work we introduce a cross-linkable derivative of 9-(4-(10-phenylanthracene-9-yl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole incorporating styrene moieties (S…

Non-Planar and Flexible Hole-Transporting Materials from Bis-Xanthene and Bis-Thioxanthene Units for Perovskite Solar Cells

Two new hole-transporting materials (HTMs), BX-OMeTAD and BTX-OMeTAD, based on xanthene and thioxanthene units, respectively, and bearing p-methoxydiphenylamine peripheral groups, are presented for their use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The novelty of the newly designed molecules relies on the use of a single carbon-carbon bond ‘C−C’ as a linker between the two functionalized heterocycles, which increases the flexibility of the molecule compared with the more rigid structure of the widely used HTM spiro-OMeTAD. The new HTMs display a limited absorbance in the visible region, due to the lack of conjugation between the two molecular halves, and the chemical design used has a remarkably i…

Heteroatom Effect on Star-Shaped Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Molecular Engineering of Iridium Blue Emitters Using Aryl N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The synthesis of a new series of neutral bis[2-(2,4-difluorophen-2-yl)pyridine][1-(2-aryl)-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene]iridium(III) complexes is reported. Each complex has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectrophotometry, and cyclic voltammetry, and the photophysical properties examined in depth. Furthermore, two of the complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. By systematically modifying the cyclometalating aryl group on the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand from 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl to 6-methoxy-2-methyl-3-pyridyl, the energy levels of the Ir complexes were modified to produce new blue emitters with increased HOMO and triplet-state ene…

Hole transporting materials based on benzodithiophene and dithienopyrrole cores for efficient perovskite solar cells

The development of highly efficient hole transporting materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is still one of the most thrilling research subjects in the development of this emerging photovoltaic technology. Inner ring engineering of the aromatic core of new HTMs – consisting of three fused rings endowed with four triarylamine units – reveals major performance effects over the fabricated devices. In particular, substitution of the central pyrrole ring in dithienopyrrole (DTP) by a benzene ring – benzodithiophene (BDT) – allows enhancing the power conversion efficiency from 15.6% to 18.1%, in devices employing mixed-perovskite (FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15 (MA: CH3NH3+, FA: NHCHNH3+) …

Flexible high efficiency perovskite solar cells

Flexible perovskite based solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of 7% have been prepared on PET based conductive substrates. Extended bending of the devices does not deteriorate their performance demonstrating their suitability for roll to roll processing.

Tuning the photophysical properties of cationic iridium(iii) complexes containing cyclometallated 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole through functionalized 2,2′-bipyridineligands: blue but not blue enough

Four new heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes in the family [Ir(dfppz)(2)((NN)-N-boolean AND)](+), where Hdfppz = 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole and (NN)-N-boolean AND = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (1), 4,4'-(di-tert-butyl)-6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (2), 4,4'-(di-tert-butyl)-6,6'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (3) and 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-2,2'-bipyridine (4), have been synthesized as the hexafluoridophosphate salts and fully characterized. Single crystal structures of ligand 3 and the precursor [Ir-2(dfppz)(4)(mu-Cl)(2)] have been determined, along with the structures of the complexes 4{[Ir(dfppz)(2)(1)][PF6]}center dot 3CH(2)Cl(2), [Ir(dfppz)(2)(3)][PF6]center dot CH2Cl2 and [Ir(dfppz)(2)(4)][…

Improving the Long‐Term Stability of Doped Spiro‐Type Hole‐Transporting Materials in Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

The improvement of the long-term stability of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs) toward commercialization is closely linked to the development of cutting-edge charge-transporting materials. The progress on the design and the synthesis of new hole-transporting materials (HTMs) is synergistically attaining both top efficiencies and promising stability. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of two doped-HTMs based on electron-rich spiranic cores, namely, 9H-quinolinophenoxazine (spiro-POZ) and 9H-quinolinophenothiazine (spiro-PTZ), are presented. The novel HTMs exhibit excellent solubility, optimal highest occupied molecular orbital energy, and excellent thermal stability with glass tran…

Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells Employing an Anthradithiophene Core

A decade after the report of the first efficient perovskite-based solar cell, development of novel hole-transporting materials (HTMs) is still one of the main topics in this research field. Two of the main advance vectors of this topic lie in obtaining materials with enhanced hole-extracting capability and in easing their synthetic cost. The use of anthra[1,9-bc:5,10-b'c']dithiophene (ADT) as a flat π-conjugated frame for bearing arylamine electroactive moieties allows obtaining two novel highly efficient HTMs from very cheap precursors. The solar cells fabricated making use of the mixed composition (FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15 perovskite and the novel ADT-based HTMs show power conversion effi…

Advances in solution-processed near-infrared light-emitting diodes

A summary of recent advances in the near-infrared light-emitting diodes that are fabricated by solution-processed means, with coverage of devices based on organic semiconductors, halide perovskites and colloidal quantum dots.

Pulsed-current versus constant-voltage light-emitting electrochemical cells with trifluoromethyl-substituted cationic iridium(iii) complexes

We report on five cationic iridium(III) complexes with cyclometalating 2-(3′-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine and a diimine, [(C⁁N)2Ir(N⁁N)](PF6), N⁁N = 4,4′-R2-2,2′-dipyridyl or 4,7-R2-1,10-phenanthroline (R = H, Me, tert-Bu, Ph), and characterize three of them by crystal structure analysis. The complexes undergo oxidation of the Ir–aryl fragment at 1.13–1.16 V (against ferrocene couple) and reduction of the N⁁N ligand at −1.66 V to −1.86 V, and have a redox gap of 2.84–2.99 V. The complexes exhibit bluish-green to green-yellow phosphorescence in an argon-saturated dichloromethane solution at room temperature with a maximum at 486–520 nm, quantum yield of 61–67%, and an excited-state lifetim…

Bis-Sulfone- and Bis-Sulfoxide-Spirobifluorenes: Polar Acceptor Hosts with Tunable Solubilities for Blue-Phosphorescent Light-Emitting Devices

Bis-sulfone- and bis-sulfoxide-spirobifluorenes are a promising class of high-triplet-energy electron-acceptor hosts for blue phosphorescent light-emitting devices. The molecular design and synthetic route are simple and facilitate tailoring of the solubilities of the host materials without lowering the high-energy triplet state. The syntheses and characterization (including single-crystal structures) of four electron-accepting hosts are reported; the trend in their reduction potentials is consistent with the electron-withdrawing nature of the sulfone or sulfoxide substituents. Emission maxima of 421–432 nm overlap with the MLCT absorption of the sky-blue emitter bis(4,6-difluorophenyl-pyri…

Perovskite Solar Cells: Heteroatom Effect on Star-Shaped Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells (Adv. Funct. Mater. 31/2018)

Saddle-like, π-conjugated, cyclooctatetrathiophene-based, hole-transporting material for perovskite solar cells

A flexible, saddle-like, π-conjugated skeleton composed of four fused thiophene rings forming a cyclooctatetrathiophene (CoTh) with four triphenylamines (CoTh-TTPA) is presented as a hole-transporting material (HTM) for perovskite solar cells. The new HTM shows a bright red color stemming from a direct conjugation between the TPA groups and the central CoTh scaffold. This results in a charge transfer band due to the combination of the weak acceptor moiety, the CoTh unit, and the electron-donating p-methoxytriphenylamine groups. CoTh-TTPA exhibits a suitable highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level in relation to the valence band edge of the perovskite, which ensures efficient hole ex…

High‐Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells Using Molecularly Engineered, Thiophene‐Rich, Hole‐Transporting Materials: Influence of Alkyl Chain Length on Power Conversion Efficiency

The synthesis and characterization of a series of novel small-molecule hole-transporting materials (HTMs) based on an anthra[1,2-b:4,3-b′:5,6-b′′:8,7-b′′′]tetrathiophene (ATT) core are reported. The new compounds follow an easy synthetic route and have no need of expensive purification steps. The novel HTMs are tested in perovskite solar cells and power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of up to 18.1% under 1 sun irradiation are measured. This value is comparable with the 17.8% efficiency obtained using 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9′-spirobifluorene as a reference compound. Similarly, a significant quenching of the photoluminescence in the first nanosecond is observed, ind…

Azatruxene‐Based, Dumbbell‐Shaped, Donor–π‐Bridge–Donor Hole‐Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells

Three novel donor-π-bridge-donor (D-π-D) hole-transporting materials (HTMs) featuring triazatruxene electron-donating units bridged by different 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) π-conjugated linkers have been synthesized, characterized, and implemented in mesoporous perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The optoelectronic properties of the new dumbbell-shaped derivatives (DTTXs) are highly influenced by the chemical structure of the EDOT-based linker. Red-shifted absorption and emission and a stronger donor ability were observed in passing from DTTX-1 to DTTX-2 due to the extended π-conjugation. DTTX-3 featured an intramolecular charge transfer between the external triazatruxene units and the azo…

Phosphine Oxide Derivative as a Passivating Agent to Enhance the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

Defects of metal-halide perovskites detrimentally influence the optoelectronic properties of the thin film and, ultimately, the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Especially, defect-mediated nonradiative recombination that occurs at the perovskite interface significantly limits the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs. In this regard, interfacial engineering or surface treatment of perovskites has become a viable strategy for reducing the density of surface defects, thereby improving the PCE of PSCs. Here, an organic molecule, tris(5-((tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)pentyl) phosphine oxide (THPPO), is synthesized and introduced as a defect passivation agent in PSC…

An Ester-Substituted Iridium Complex for Efficient Vacuum-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

An orange-red-emitting iridium complex (N958) was prepared, and its photophysical and device-based characteristics were investigated. Despite N958 displaying quite poor photophysical properties in solution (acetonitrile), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices based on the complex exhibit an efficiency close to 10%.

Bis(arylimidazole) Iridium Picolinate Emitters and Preferential Dipole Orientation in Films

The straightforward synthesis and photophysical properties of a new series of heteroleptic iridium(III) bis(2-arylimidazole) picolinate complexes are reported. Each complex has been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, and photoluminescent angle dependency, and the emissive properties of each are described. The preferred orientation of transition dipoles in emitter/host thin films indicated more preferred orientation than homoleptic complex Ir(ppy)3.

CCDC 1445197: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Sadig Aghazada, Aron J. Huckaba, Antonio Pertegas, Azin Babaei, Giulia Grancini, Iwan Zimmermann, Henk Bolink and Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin|2016|Eur.J.Inorg.Chem.||5089|doi:10.1002/ejic.201600971

CCDC 1813461: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1445196: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1583689: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 974892: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1583690: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1813460: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1813459: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 993287: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Cathrin D. Ertl, Henk J. Bolink, Catherine E. Housecroft, Edwin C. Constable, Enrique Ortí, José M. Junquera-Hernández, Markus Neuburger, Nail M. Shavaleev, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin and David Vonlanthen|2016|Eur.J.Org.Chem.|2016|2037|doi:10.1002/ejoc.201600247

CCDC 974893: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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CCDC 1584183: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

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