Organic Photovoltaic Cells with Improved Performance Using Bathophenanthroline as a Buffer Layer

The role of bathophenanthroline （Bphen） as a buffer layer inserted between fullerene （C60） and Ag cathode in organic photovoltaic （OPV） cell was discussed. By introducing Bphen as a buffer layer with thicknes from 0 to 2.5 nm, the power conversion efficiency of the OPV cell based on copper phthalocyanine （CuPc） and C60 was increased from 0.87% to 2.25% under AM 1.5 solar illumination at an intensity of 100 mW/cm^2, which was higher than that of bathocuproine used as a buffer layer. The photocurrent-voltage characteristics showed that Bphen effectively improves electron transport through C60 layer into Ag electrode and leads to balance charge carrier transport capability. The influence of Bphen thickness on OPV cells was also investigated. Furthermore, the absorption spectrum shows that an additional Bphen layer enhances the light harvest capability of CuPc/C60.

TiO2 Nanoparticles Produced by Electric-Discharge-Nanofluid-Process as Photoelectrode of DSSC

Self-made TiO2 nanoparticles were used as photoelectrode material of dye sensitized solar cell. The TiO2 thin film coats through spreading nanoparticles evenly onto the ITO glass via self-made spin-heat platform, and then TiO2 thin film is soaked in the dye N-719 more than 12 h to prepare the photoelectrode device. The TiO2 nanoparticles produced by electric-discharge-nanofluid-process have premium anatase crystal property, and its diameter can be controlled within a range of 20-50 nm. The surface energy zeta potential of nanofluid is from -22 mV to -28.8 mV, it is a stable particle suspension in the deionized water. A trace of surfactant Triton X-100 put upon the surface of ITO glass can produce a uniform and dense TiO2 thin film and heating up the spin platform to 200 oC is able to eliminate mixed surfac-tant. Self-made TiO2 film presents excellent dye absorption performance and even doesn＇t need heat treatment procedure to enhance essential property. Results of energy analysis show the thicker film structure will increase the short-circuit current density that causes higher conversion efficiency. But, as the film structure is large and thick, both the open-circuit voltage and fill factor will decline gradually to lead bad efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell.

Photoelectric Conversion Efficiency Enhanced by Tilting Monocrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Devices

Based on the idea of tilting a photoelectric conversion device,the monocrystalline silicon p-n junction device was tilted to make light incident upon the device at an angle of 45° with the normal of the device surface,resulting in infrared multiple-internal-reflection inside the device.The internal reflection leads to path length increase of infrared light,making the enhancement of infrared absorption of the device.An increase of 11% in energy conversion efficiency has been obtained through tilting the device.

我市光伏产业及分布式发电项目建设进展情况

2014年我市光伏产业发展形势较2013年有所好转,特别是《宁波市人民政府关于促进光伏产业健康持续发展的实施意见》("甬政发〔2014〕29号"文件,以下简称《实施意见》)发布以后,我市光伏产业呈现逐渐规范发展态势,全行业骨干企业经营状况趋好,分布式光伏发电系统稳健推进。但光伏产业仍然面临着复杂多变的国内外市场形势,全行业仍将承受着较大的转型升级压力。一、行业发展逐步回暖。

Alloy-like ternary polymer solar cells with over 17.2% efficiency

Ternary strategy has been considered as an efficient method to achieve high performance polymer solar cells(PSCs). A power conversion efficiency(PCE) of 17.22% is achieved in the optimized ternary PSCs with10 wt% MF1 in acceptors. The over 8% PCE improvement by employing ternary strategy is attributed to the simultaneously increased JSCof 25.68 mA cm^-2, VOCof 0.853 V and FF of 78.61% compared with Y6 based binary PSCs. The good compatibility of MF1 and Y6 can be confirmed from Raman mapping, contact angle,cyclic voltammetry and morphology, which is the prerequisite to form alloy-like state. Electron mobility in ternary active layers strongly depends on MF1 content in acceptors due to the different lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO) levels of Y6 and MF1, which can well explain the wave-like varied FF of ternary PSCs. The third-party certified PCE of 16.8% should be one of the highest values for single bulk heterojunction PSCs. This work provides sufficient references for selecting materials to achieve efficient ternary PSCs.

Cementitious grain-boundary passivation for flexible perovskite solar cells with superior environmental stability and mechanical robustness

The power conversion effciency(PCE)of flexible perovskite solar cells(PSCs)has increased rapidly,while the mechanical flexibility and environmental stability are still far from satisfactory.Previous studies show the environmental degradation and ductile cracks of perovskite films usually begin at the grain boundaries(GBs).Herein,sulfonated graphene oxide(s-GO)is employed to construct a cementitious GBs by interacting with the[Pb I6]4–at GBs.The resultant s-GO-[Pb I6]4–complex can effectively passivate the defects of vacant iodine,and the devices with s-GO exhibit remarkable waterproofness and flexibility due to the tough and water-insoluble GBs.The champion PCE of 20.56%(1.01 cm^(2))in a device treated with s-GO is achieved.This device retains 90%of its original PCE after 180 d stored in the ambient condition,as well as over 80%retention after 10,000 bending cycles at a curvature radius of 3 mm.

Coordination engineering of Cu-Zn-Sn-S aqueous precursor for efficient kesterite solar cells

Aqueous precursors provide an alluring approach for low-cost and environmentally friendly production of earth-abundant Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4(CZTSSe)solar cells.The key is to find an appropriate molecular agent to prepare a stable solution and optimize the coordination structure to facilitate the subsequent crystallization process.Herein,we introduce thioglycolic acid(TGA),which possesses strong coordination(SH)and hydrophilic(COOH)groups,as the agent and use deprotonation to regulate the coordination competition within the aqueous solution.Ultimately,metal cations are adequately coordinated with thiolate anions,and carboxylate anions are released to become hydrated to form an ultrastable aqueous solution.These factors have contributed to achieving CZTSSe solar cells with an efficiency as high as 12.3%(a certified efficiency of 12.0%)and providing an extremely wide time window for precursor storage and usage.This work represents significant progress in the non-toxic solution fabrication of CZTSSe solar cells and holds great potential for the development of CZTSSe and other metal sulfide solar cells.

CsPbBrI perovskites with low energy loss for high-performance indoor and outdoor photovoltaics

Over the years,the efficiency of inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs)has increased at an unprecedented pace.However,energy loss in the device has limited a further increase in efficiency and commercialization.In this work,we used(NH4)2C2O4·H2O to treat CsPbBrI2 perovskite film during spin-coating.The CsPbBrI2 underwent secondary crystallization to form high quality films with micrometer-scale and low trap density.(NH4)2C2O4·H2O treatment promoted charge transfer capacity and reduced the ideal factor.It also dropped the energy loss from 0.80 to 0.64 eV.The resulting device delivered a power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 16.55%with an open-circuit voltage(Voc)of 1.24 V,which are largely improved compared with the reference device which exhibited a PCE of 13.27%and a Voc of 1.10 V.In addition,the optimized treated device presented a record indoor PCE of 28.48%under a fluorescent lamp of 1000 lux,better than that of the reference device(19.05%).

Formation of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells by introducing an interfacial layer of hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous TiO_2 film

Hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous TiO2 films (Ti-Ma-Me) were fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates through the confinement self-assembly method. The prepared Ti-Ma-Me possesses periodically ordered structure and a large specific surface area, which was applied as an interfacial layer between the nanocrystalline TiO2 film (P25-TiO2) and FTO electrode in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The introduction of a Ti-Ma-Me interfacial layer increased the shortcircuit current density (Jsc) from 7.49 to 10.65 mA/cm2 and the open-circuit voltage (Voc) from 0.65 to 0.70 V as the result of its improved light harvesting efficiency by allowing for the high roughness factor and enhanced multiple internal reflection or scattering as well as reducing the back-transport reaction by blocking direct contact between the electrolyte and FTO electrode. Therefore, the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (η) was improved by 83% from 3.04% to 5.55%, as compared to a device using a bare P25 TiO2 photoanode.

Elucidating the dynamics of solvent engineering for perovskite solar cells

Researchers working in the field of photovoltaic are exploring novel materials for the efficient solar energy conversion.The prime objective of the discovery of every novel photovoltaic material is to achieve more energy yield with easy fabrication process and less production cost features.Perovskite solar cells (PSCs)delivering the highest efficiency in the passing years with different stoichiometry and fabrication modification have made this technology a potent candidate for future energy conversion materials.Till now,many studies have shown that the quality of active layer morphology,to a great extent,determines the performance of PSCs.The current and potential techniques of solvent engineering for good active layer morphology are mainly debated using primary solvent,co-solvent (Lewis acid-base adduct approach)and solvent additives.In this review,the dynamics of numerously reported solvents on the morphological characteristics of PSCs active layer are discussed in detail.The intention is to get a clear understanding of solvent engineering induced modifications on active layer morphology in PSC devices via different crystallization routes.At last,an attempt is made to draw a framework based on different solvent coordination properties to make it easy for screening the potent solvent contender for desired PSCs precursor for a better and feasible device.

Semiconductor nanowires for photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical energy conversion

Semiconductor nanowires （NW） possess several beneficial properties for efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity and chemical energy. Due to their efficient absorption of light, short distances for minority carriers to travel, high surface-to-volume ratios, and the availability of scalable synthesis methods, they provide a pathway to address the low cost-to-power requirements for widescale adaptation of solar energy conversion technologies. Here we highlight recent progress in our group towards implementation of NW components as photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical energy conversion devices. An emphasis is placed on the unique properties of these one-dimensional （1D） structures, which enable the use of abundant, low-cost materials and improved energy conversion efficiency compared to bulk devices.

Manipulate energy transport via fluorinated spacers towards recordefficiency 2D Dion-Jacobson CsPbI_(3) solar cells

Two-dimensional(2D)Dion-Jacobson(D-J)-type cesium lead iodide CsPbI_(3) perform remarkably in terms of stability.However,the complex interactions between spacer and inorganic layers limit its excellent progress in perovskite solar cells(PSCs).Herein,starting from the considerable structural diversity of organic spacers,we engineer 2D CsPbI_(3) with fine-tuning functionalities.Specifically,for the first time we embedded fluorinated aromatic cations in 2D D-J CsPbI_(3),and successfully applied it into construction of high-performance PSCs.Compared with constitutive 1,4-diaminobenzene(PDA),the fluorinated 2-fluorobenzene-1,4-diamine(F-PDA)component greatly expands the dipole moment from 0.59 D to 3.47 D,which reduces the exciton binding energy of the system.A theoretical study shows that the spacer layer and inorganic plane are more enriched with charge accumulation in(F-PDA)Csn±1 Pb_(n)I_(3n+1).The results show that(F-PDA)Csn±1Pb_(n)I_(3n+1) demonstrates more significant charge transfer between organic and inorganic layers than(PDA)Csn±1 Pb_(n)I_(3n+1),and it is confirmed in the femtosecond transient absorption experiment.Moreover,the interactions of the fluorinated spacer with the[PbI_(6)]_(4)-plane effectively manipulate the crystallization quality,and thus the ion migration and defect formation of target 2D CsPbI_(3) are inhibited.As a result,we obtained a record power conversion efficiency(PCE)beyond 15%for 2D D-J(F-PDA)Cs_(3)Pb_(4)I_(13)(n=4)PSCs with significantly improved environmental stability compared with the three-dimensional(3D)counterparts.

Interfacial stabilization for inverted perovskite solar cells with long-term stability

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)commonly exhibit significant performance degradation due to ion migration through the top charge transport layer and ultimately metal electrode corrosion.Here,we demonstrate an interfacial management strategy using a boron chloride subphthalocyanine(Cl_(6)SubPc)/fullerene electron-transport layer,which not only passivates the interfacial defects in the perovskite,but also suppresses halide diffusion as evidenced by multiple techniques,including visual element mapping by electron energy loss spectroscopy.As a result,we obtain inverted PSCs with an efficiency of 22.0%(21.3%certified),shelf life of 7000 h,T_(80) of 816 h under damp heat stress(compared to less than 20 h without Cl_(6)SubPc),and initial performance retention of 98%after 2000 h at 80℃in inert environment,90%after 2034 h of illumination and maximum power point tracking in ambient for encapsulated devices and 95%after 1272 h outdoor testing ISOS-O-1.Our strategy and results pave a new way to move PSCs forward to their potential commercialization solidly.

Grain boundary passivation with triazine-graphdiyne to improve perovskite solar cell performance

Detrimental defects on perovskite grain boundaries(GBs)are critical factors that lead to non-radiative recombination and hysteresis.In this work,triazine-graphdiyne(Tra-GD),a nitrogen-rich two-dimensional(2 D)material,was incorporated into the active layer of perovskite to modify the GBs.Tra-GD was found to distribute evenly over the bulk of the perovskite and has a strong interaction with the Pb^2+ exposed at GBs,which enables it to effectively passivate GB defects and prevent ion migration.The results of Kelvin probe force microscopy and photoluminescence studies proved that the highly conjugated Tra-GD located at GBs could promote charge extraction and transport.Benefiting from defect passivation and more efficient carrier transport,the Tra-GD based device showed less non-radiative recombination loss.Consequently,the resultant device presented negligible hysteresis and yielded a high power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 20.33%in the MAPbI3-based perovskite solar cell.This approach was extended to the FAPbI3 system with a PCE of 21.16%.Our Tra-GD passivation strategy provides a useful approach to effectively improving the device performance and addressing hysteresis issues.

Comprehensive study of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on the binary ionic liquid electrolyte by modifying with additives and iodine

The photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells （DSSCs） is enhanced by modifying the binary room tem- perature ionic liquid （RTIL） electrolyte with additives and iodine. The average photoelectric conversion efficiency （PCE） of 6.39% is achieved. Through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）, cyclic voltammetry scans and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency （1PCE） data, the working principles are analyzed. The enhancement is mainly attributed to the improvement of short circuit current which is caused by the reduction of overall internal resistance of the devices. Durability tests are measured at room temperature, and the long-term stability performance can be maintained.

A low-temperature TiO2/SnO2 electron transport layer for high-performance planar perovskite solar cells

Conventional titanium oxide(TiO2) as an electron transport layer(ETL) in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs) requires a sintering process at a high temperature to crystalize, which is not suitable for flexible PSCs and tandem solar cells with their low-temperatureprocessed bottom cell. Here, we introduce a low-temperature solution method to deposit a TiO2/tin oxide(SnO2) bilayer towards an efficient ETL. From the systematic measurements of optical and electronic properties, we demonstrate that the TiO2/SnO2 ETL has an enhanced charge extraction ability and a suppressed carrier recombination at the ETL/perovskite interface, both of which are beneficial to photo-generated carrier separation and transport. As a result, PSCs with TiO2/SnO2 bilayer ETLs present higher photovoltaic performance of the baseline cells compared with their TiO2 and SnO2 single-layer ETL counterparts. The champion PSC has a power conversion efficiency(PCE) of 19.11% with an open-circuit voltage(Voc)of 1.15 V, a short-circuit current density(Jsc) of 22.77 mA cm^-2,and a fill factor(FF) of 72.38%. Additionally, due to the suitable band alignment of the TiO2/SnO2 ETL in the device, a high Vocof 1.18 V is achieved. It has been proven that the TiO2/SnO2 bilayer is a promising alternative ETL for high efficiency PSCs.

Stable tin perovskite solar cells enabled by widening the time window for crystallization

Tin perovskite solar cells (TPSCs) are the most promising candidates for lead-free perovskite solar cells(PSCs).However,the poor crystallization and chemical stability of Sn perovskites are the two challenging issues for further application of TPSCs.Here,we present a strategy to stabilize CH(NH_(2))2SnI3(FASnI3) perovskite enabled by an amine complex,CH3NH3I·3CH3NH_(2),which can hinder the major degradation issue caused by the oxidation of Sn2+to Sn4+.The resulting Sn perovskite films exhibit enhanced crystallinity and stability in comparison with those made with conventional inorganic SnF2 additives.Finally,the device achieved a higher external quantum efficiency for charge extraction and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.53%,which maintained more than 90%of the initial efficiency after1000 h of light soaking under the standard AM 1.5 G solar illumination.

Tailoring organic bulk-heterojunction for charge extraction and spectral absorption in CsPbBr perovskite solar cells

All-inorganic CsPbBr_(3)perovskite solar cells(PSCs)are promising candidates to balance the stability and efficiency issues of organic-inorganic hybrid devices.However,the large energy barrier for charge transfer and narrow spectral response are still two challenging problems for performance improvement.We present here an organic bulkheterojunction{poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester(P3HT:PCBM)}photoactive layer to boost the charge extraction and to widen the spectral absorption,achieving an enhanced power conversion efficiency up to 8.94%by optimizing the thickness of P3HT:PCBM photoactive layer,which is much higher than 6.28%for the pristine CsPbBr_(3)device.The interaction between the carbonyl group in PCBM and unsaturated Pb atom in the perovskite surface can effectively passivate the defects and reduce charge recombination.Furthermore,the coupling effect between PCBM and P3HT widens the spectral response from 540 to 650 nm for an increased short-circuit current density.More importantly,the devices are relatively stable over 75 days upon persistent attack by 70%relative humidity in air condition.These advantages of high efficiency,excellent long-term stability,cost-effectiveness and scalability may promote the commercialization of inorganic PSCs.

Eliminating the electric field response in a perovskite heterojunction solar cell to improve operational stability

Intrinsic and extrinsic ion migration is a very large threat to the operational stability of perovskite solar cells and is difficult to completely eliminate due to the low activation energy of ion migration and the existence of internal electric field.We propose a heterojunction route to help suppress ion migration,thus improving the operational stability of the cell from the perspective of eliminating the electric field response in the perovskite absorber.A heavily doped p-type(p^(+))thin layer semiconductor is introduced between the electron transporting layer(ETL)and perovskite absorber.The heterojunction charge depletion and electric field are limited to the ETL and p^(+)layers,while the perovskite absorber and hole transporting layer remain neutral.The p^(+)layer has a variety of candidate materials and is tolerant of defect density and carrier mobility,which makes this heterojunction route highly feasible and promising for use in practical applications.

Highly efficient Cu_(2)ZnSn(S,Se)_(4) bifacial solar cell via a composition gradient strategy through the molecular ink

The use of transparent conducting oxide(TCO)as a substrate in Cu_(2)ZnSn(S,Se)_(4)(CZTSSe)thin-film solar cells allows for advanced applications,such as bifacial,semitransparent,and tandem solar cells with the capability to increase power density generation.However,the efficiency of this kind of solar cell is still below 6% based on the low-cost solution process.In this work,we develop a composition gradient strategy and demonstrate a 6.82% efficient CZTSSe solar cell on F:SnO_(2)(FTO)substrate under the ambient condition.The composition gradient is realized by simply depositing the precursor inks with different Zn/Sn ratios.To verify that the high performance of the solar cell is attributed to the composition gradient strategy rather than the sole change of the Zn/Sn ratio,devices based on absorbers with varied Zn/Sn ratios are fabricated.Furthermore,the structure and surface morphology of the CZTSSe films with/without composition gradients are examined.The presence of elemental gradient through the depth of the CZTSSe films before and after annealing is confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis.It is found that the composition gradient enhances the crystallinity of the absorber,reduces the surface roughness as well as device parasitic losses,contributing to a higher fill factor,open-circuit voltage,and conversion efficiency.