Mechanics manipulation in large-area organic solar modules achieving over 16.5 % efficiency

Hao Gu; Juan Zhu; Haiyang Chen; Guang Zeng; Xining Chen; Xiaohua Tang; Jinfeng Xia; Tianjiao Zhang; Ben Zhang; Jiandong Zhang; Junyuan Ding; Yaowen Li; Yongfang Li

Giant (Jun 2024)

Mechanics manipulation in large-area organic solar modules achieving over 16.5 % efficiency

Hao Gu,
Juan Zhu,
Haiyang Chen,
Guang Zeng,
Xining Chen,
Xiaohua Tang,
Jinfeng Xia,
Tianjiao Zhang,
Ben Zhang,
Jiandong Zhang,
Junyuan Ding,
Yaowen Li,
Yongfang Li

Affiliations

Hao Gu: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Juan Zhu: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Corresponding authors.
Haiyang Chen: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Guang Zeng: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Xining Chen: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Xiaohua Tang: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Jinfeng Xia: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Tianjiao Zhang: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Ben Zhang: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Jiandong Zhang: State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Corresponding authors.
Junyuan Ding: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Yaowen Li: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Corresponding authors.
Yongfang Li: Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18
p. 100286

Abstract

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High-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) are typically produced through spin-coating, restricting their application to small areas. Blade-coating, however, emerging as a promising method for large-scale production, yet faces challenges in film morphology optimization, which often leads to reduced power conversion efficiency (PCE). This study delves into the influence of both liquid and solid additives on the morphology of active layer in blade-coated OSCs, comparing them with spin-coated counterparts, using the high-efficiency PM6:D18:BTP-eC9 active layer. For the first time, we discovered the distinct impacts of solid versus liquid additives on the film uniformity, phase separation and crystalline regulation in blade-coating technique. Our findings reveal that liquid additives in blade-coating trigger outward Marangoni flow, causing undesirable material aggregation and phase separation, thereby impairing device performances. Conversely, switching to solid additives, like 1,4-Diiodobenzene (DIB), prevents these detrimental changes in fluid mechanics and preserves the desired additive effects. We demonstrate that solid additives can significantly change these inferior behaviors introduced by liquid additives in blade-coating, regulate phase separation, enhance π-π accumulation and delay crystallization, and ultimately boost OSC efficiency. Using DIB solid additive, we achieved a PCE of 18.81 % in blade-coated devices. Scaling up by 252 times, the PCE of large-area OSC module (15.64 cm²) sustained at 16.70 % (certified 16.66 %), ranking among the highest efficiency for OSC modules reported so far. These modules also exhibited exceptional storage stability, retaining 98 % efficiency after 5880 h in a nitrogen atmosphere. This research also provides a comprehensive understanding from various film characterizations and the perspective of fluid mechanics normally lack in the research. This research not only establishes a new framework for high-performance and large-area OSC modules but also extends its findings to other OSC systems with different additives, demonstrating a roll-to-roll compatible technique.

Published in Giant

ISSN: 2666-5425 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General)
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/giant

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