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Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells with ITO Cathode Modified by Zinc Oxide and Polyethylene Oxide Bilayers
Author(s) -
Huang Youhuan,
Cai Ping,
Ren Peng,
Zhang Xiuyun,
Du Yusong,
Zou Zhuoliang,
Xiong Jian,
Xue Xiaogang,
Zhang Jian,
Chen Junwu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201800113
Subject(s) - materials science , cathode , layer (electronics) , work function , oxide , polymer , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , polymer solar cell , nanotechnology , energy conversion efficiency , composite material , chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
For inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs), zinc oxide (ZnO) with various advantages are typically used as cathode buffer layer, but the existing surface traps/detects of ZnO layer obviously restrict device performance. In this work, the authors introduce polyethylene oxide (PEO) with high molecular weight of 300 thousands to modify the surface of ZnO layer on ITO cathode for inverted PSCs, where PEO possesses the particular advantages of easy accessibility and low cost. Compared with the ITO modified by pure ZnO and PEO layer, the ITO modified by ZnO/PEO bilayers shows the similarly good transparency, the lowest work function, the best surface morphology, and contact property. ZnO/PEO bilayers can provide the optimal energy alignment and interface contact between ITO and active layer, and efficiently eliminate the surface defects of ZnO layer. Therefore, the ITO/ZnO/PEO‐based device exhibits the best photovoltaic performance with the PCE of 9.57% compared to the ITO/ZnO‐based device (8.42%) and the ITO/PEO‐based device (8.16%). The impressive results suggest that ZnO/PEO bilayers should be promising cathode buffer layer for high‐performance inverted PSCs.