Amino acid functionalised perylene bisimides for aqueous solution-deposited electron transporting interlayers in organic photovoltaic devices

Cameron, J. , Adams, D. J. , Skabara, P. J. and Draper, E. R. (2022) Amino acid functionalised perylene bisimides for aqueous solution-deposited electron transporting interlayers in organic photovoltaic devices. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 10(10), pp. 3944-3950. (doi: 10.1039/D1TC04622E)

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Abstract

Solution-processable organic solar cells have the potential to offer a low-cost renewable energy source with low energy intensive processing. However, the range of materials that are compatible for forming multilayer photovoltaic devices beyond a bulk heterojunction layer is limited due to a requirement for orthogonal processing to avoid dissolution of layers. Improving charge transport is a key challenge in the pursuit of high efficiency organic photovoltaics. Therefore, the development of solution-processable electron transport layers that are suitable for orthogonal processing is important for the feasibility of solution-processed devices. Here, we present a series of amino acid appended perylene bisimides (PBIs) which have been used as electron transporting interlayers in P3HT/PC61BM based organic photovoltaic cells. These PBIs are easily soluble in water at high pH, allowing for easy solution processability. Despite minimal changes in molecular structure in the series of PBIs, there are profound differences in performance of the solar cells, with the phenylalanine derivative showing the most promising performance. The absorbance, morphology and photoconductivity properties of the PBIs have a strong influence on the suitability of the material as an effective interlayer.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cameron, Dr Joseph and Draper, Emily and Skabara, Professor Peter and Adams, Dave
Authors: Cameron, J., Adams, D. J., Skabara, P. J., and Draper, E. R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Journal of Materials Chemistry C
Publisher:Royal Society of Chemistry
ISSN:2050-7526
ISSN (Online):2050-7534
Published Online:21 February 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry
First Published:First published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C 10(10): 3944-3950
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
Data DOI:10.5525/gla.researchdata.1186

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
174004Multicomponent Supramolecular HydrogelsDave AdamsEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/L021978/2Chemistry
303776Light-controlled manufacturing of semiconductor structures: a platform for next generation processing of photonic devicesPeter SkabaraEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/P02744X/2Chemistry
306112Electrochromic Gels for Smart WindowsEmily DraperEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/S032673/1Chemistry
300895Aligning Self-Assembled Materials for Wearable ElectronicsEmily DraperLeverhulme Trust (LEVERHUL)ECF-2017-223Chemistry