Abstract

　Highly efficient p–i–n perovskite solar cells employing a flat and thick CH3NH3PbI3 film and a thin PCBM film are fabricated by the solution-process at low temperature. Through attainment of optimized PCBM thickness and insertion of the LiF interlayer, the unit cell shows 14.1% of overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) with a Jsc of 20.7 mA cm−2, a Voc of 0.866 V, and a FF of 78.3% under AM 1.5G 100 mW cm−2 conditions, while a larger area 10 cell serially connected module (10 × 10 cm2) shows an 8.7% PCE. These PCE values are the highest reported to date for the planar perovskite–PCBM solar cells.

Abstract

　Besides the generated photocurrent as a key factor that impacts the efficiency of solar cells, the produced photovoltage and fill factor are also of critical importance. Therefore, understanding and optimization of the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of perovskite solar cells, especially with an architecture consisting of mesoporous (mp)-TiO2/perovskite/hole transporting materials (HTMs), are required to further improve the conversion efficiency. In this work, we study the effects of the energy level between CH3NH3(= MA)PbI3 and MAPbBr3 and a series of triarylamine polymer derivatives containing fluorene and indenofluorene, which have different highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels, in terms of the photovoltaic behaviour. The voltage output of the device is found to be dependent on the higher energy level of perovskite solar absorbers as well as the HOMO level of the HTMs. The combination of MAPbBr3 and a deep-HOMO HTM leads to a high photovoltage of 1.40 V, with a fill factor of 79% and an energy conversion efficiency of up to 6.7%, which is the highest value reported to date for MAPbBr3 perovskite solar cells.

Abstract

　Three spiro-OMeTAD derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The optical and electronic properties of the derivatives were modified by changing the positions of the two methoxy substituents in each of the quadrants, as monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements. The derivatives were employed as hole-transporting materials (HTMs), and their performances were compared for the fabrication of mesoporous TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/HTM/Au solar cells. Surprisingly, the cell performance was dependent on the positions of the OMe substituents. The derivative with o-OMe substituents showed highly improved performance by exhibiting a short-circuit current density of 21.2 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 1.02 V, and a fill factor of 77.6% under 1 sun illumination (100 mW/cm2), which resulted in an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.7%, compared to ∼15% for conventional p-OMe substituents. The PCE of 16.7% is the highest value reported to date for perovskite-based solar cells with spiro-OMeTAD.

Abstract

　We report on the fabrication of PbS/CH3NH3PbI3 (=MAP) core/shell quantum dot (QD)-sensitized inorganic–organic heterojunction solar cells on top of mesoporous (mp) TiO2 electrodes with hole transporting polymers (P3HT and PEDOT:PSS). The PbS/MAP core/shell QDs were in situ-deposited by a modified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process using PbI2 and Na2S solutions with repeated spin-coating and subsequent dipping into CH3NH3I (=MAI) solution in the final stage. The resulting device showed much higher efficiency as compared to PbS QD-sensitized solar cells without a MAP shell layer, reaching an overall efficiency of 3.2% under simulated solar illumination (AM1.5, 100 mW·cm–2). From the measurement of the impedance spectroscopy and the time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) decay, the significantly enhanced performance is mainly attributed to both reduced charge recombination and better charge extraction by MAP shell layer. In addition, we demonstrate that the MAP shell effectively prevented the photocorrosion of PbS, resulting in highly improved stability in the cell efficiency with time. Therefore, our approach provides method for developing high performance QD-sensitized solar cells.

Abstract

　A facile and innovative method for the fabrication of highly fluorescent micro-patterns is presented, which operates on the principle of phototriggered phase transition and physical mass migration in the crystalline film of a cyanostilbene-type aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) molecule ((Z)-2,3-bis(3,4,5-tris(dodecyloxy)phenyl) acrylonitrile) with liquid-crystalline (LC) mesomorphic behavior.

Abstract

　We report a transparent, fluorescent gel assembled from a cyanostilbene-containing material (compound 1), which incorporates bulky and flexible spacers via an amide group and exhibits aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE). The photoinduced morphological change (gel-to-sol) upon the photoisomerization of 1 was successfully demonstrated, which was accompanied by a fluorescence color switching from the aggregate emission (490 nm) to the monomer emission (465 nm). It is notable that the photoisomerization of the cyanostilbene moiety in our innovative system induces both the gel-to-sol transition and the fluorescence color.

Abstract

　We report herein a new class of piezochromic luminescence (PCL) material with an acid stimulus response based on a donor (D)–acceptor (A)–donor (D) molecular triad, m-BHHDCS (1), synthesized via a rational design strategy. Acid-responsive harmane derivatives were rationally introduced into the unique D–A–D platform to obtain dual-stimuli responsive properties, i.e. acidochromic and piezochromic behaviors. Upon exposure to mechanical force and/or acid treatment, the pristine powders of 1 showed rapid and instant fluorescence turn-on with discernible intensity (Φ1B = 9% and Φ1C = 5%, respectively). In order to test more practical applications, we utilized light as a stimulus source using a photo-acid generator (PAG) instead of acid, and thus successfully demonstrated an intriguing optical recording medium orthogonally activated by mechanical force and light. Moreover, based on the in-depth combined experimental and computational studies, we could conclude that the dual-stimuli responsive properties of 1 originated from a structurally controlled photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process in the molecular assemblies, that is inhibited by mechanical force and acid. Mechanical force destroys the characteristic stacked structure, so that the ultrafast PET is inhibited and fluorescence is recovered. In contrast, acid covalently binds to the harmane appendages in the specific stacked arrangement of 1, which efficiently blocks PET. We believe that this system will inspire the development of a new class of smart PCL materials, and furthermore provide important insights into solid-state emission and stimuli-response behaviors.

Abstract

　Enhanced DC conductivity and photoconductivity of cationic carbazole tethered deoxyribonucleic acid (Cz-DNA) in film devices is achieved by incorporating mobility enhancers. An anthracene-based organic semiconductor (namely 4HPA-Ant) and the inorganic semiconductor cadmium sulfide (CdS) multipod nanocrystal (NC) were used as the mobility enhancers. Space charge limited current (SCLC) experiments show that hole mobility in CdS:Cz-DNA composite film is improved significantly, by about an order of magnitude, compared to the Cz-DNA film. Similarly, the DC conductivity of the composite film is slightly enhanced by 4HPA-Ant. The photoconductivity is also improved in the Cz-DNA composite, with both 4HPA-Ant and CdS multipod NCs. The enhancement in photocurrent is by more than an order of magnitude, as demonstrated by current–voltage (I–V) characterization using DNA composite photodetectors.

Abstract

　Nanochemistry and nanomaterials provide numerous opportunities for a new generation of photovoltaics with high solar energy conversion efficiencies at low fabrication cost. Quantum-confined nanomaterials and polymer–inorganic nanocomposites can be tailored to harvest sun light over a broad range of the spectrum, while plasmonic structures offer effective ways to reduce the thickness of light-absorbing layers. Multiple exciton generation, singlet exciton fission, photon down-conversion, and photon up-conversion realized in nanostructures, create significant interest for harvesting underutilized ultraviolet and currently unutilized infrared photons. Nanochemical interface engineering of nanoparticle surfaces and junction-interfaces enable enhanced charge separation and collection. In this review, we survey these recent advances employed to introduce new concepts for improving the solar energy conversion efficiency, and reduce the device fabrication cost in photovoltaic technologies. The review concludes with a summary of contributions already made by nanochemistry. It then describes the challenges and opportunities in photovoltaics where the chemical community can play a vital role.