Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells
Charge injection and transport interlayers play a crucial role in many classes of optoelectronics, including organic and perovskite ones. Here, we demonstrate the beneficial role of carbon nanodots, both pristine and nitrogen-functionalized, as electron transport materials in organic light emitting...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/1/169 |
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| author | Zoi Georgiopoulou Apostolis Verykios Kalliopi Ladomenou Katerina Maskanaki Georgios Chatzigiannakis Konstantina-Kalliopi Armadorou Leonidas C. Palilis Alexander Chroneos Evangelos K. Evangelou Spiros Gardelis Abd. Rashid bin Mohd Yusoff Athanassios G. Coutsolelos Konstantinos Aidinis Maria Vasilopoulou Anastasia Soultati |
| author_facet | Zoi Georgiopoulou Apostolis Verykios Kalliopi Ladomenou Katerina Maskanaki Georgios Chatzigiannakis Konstantina-Kalliopi Armadorou Leonidas C. Palilis Alexander Chroneos Evangelos K. Evangelou Spiros Gardelis Abd. Rashid bin Mohd Yusoff Athanassios G. Coutsolelos Konstantinos Aidinis Maria Vasilopoulou Anastasia Soultati |
| author_sort | Zoi Georgiopoulou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Charge injection and transport interlayers play a crucial role in many classes of optoelectronics, including organic and perovskite ones. Here, we demonstrate the beneficial role of carbon nanodots, both pristine and nitrogen-functionalized, as electron transport materials in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OSCs). Pristine (referred to as C-dots) and nitrogen-functionalized (referred to as NC-dots) carbon dots are systematically studied regarding their properties by using cyclic voltammetry, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy in order to reveal their energetic alignment and possible interaction with the organic semiconductor’s emissive layer. Atomic force microscopy unravels the ultra-thin nature of the interlayers. They are next applied as interlayers between an Al metal cathode and a conventional green-yellow copolymer—in particular, (poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1′,3}-thiadiazole)], F8BT)—used as an emissive layer in fluorescent OLEDs. Electrical measurements indicate that both the C-dot- and NC-dot-based OLED devices present significant improvements in their current and luminescent characteristics, mainly due to a decrease in electron injection barrier. Both C-dots and NC-dots are also used as cathode interfacial layers in OSCs with an inverted architecture. An increase of nearly 10% in power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the devices using the C-dots and NC-dots compared to the reference one is achieved. The application of low-cost solution-processed materials in OLEDs and OSCs may contribute to their wide implementation in large-area applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:04:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3aac02582f204981b1cfa1e7bed6f5dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:04:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-3aac02582f204981b1cfa1e7bed6f5dd2023-11-30T22:59:42ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-12-0113116910.3390/nano13010169Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar CellsZoi Georgiopoulou0Apostolis Verykios1Kalliopi Ladomenou2Katerina Maskanaki3Georgios Chatzigiannakis4Konstantina-Kalliopi Armadorou5Leonidas C. Palilis6Alexander Chroneos7Evangelos K. Evangelou8Spiros Gardelis9Abd. Rashid bin Mohd Yusoff10Athanassios G. Coutsolelos11Konstantinos Aidinis12Maria Vasilopoulou13Anastasia Soultati14Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Chemistry, International Hellenic University, 65404 Kavala, GreeceDepartment of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceInstitute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Physics, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Patra, GreeceDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, GreeceDepartment of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceSolid State Physics Section, Physics Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Zografos, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Gyeongbuk, Republic of KoreaLaboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Voutes Campus, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, GreeceDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab EmiratesInstitute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15341 Athens, GreeceCharge injection and transport interlayers play a crucial role in many classes of optoelectronics, including organic and perovskite ones. Here, we demonstrate the beneficial role of carbon nanodots, both pristine and nitrogen-functionalized, as electron transport materials in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OSCs). Pristine (referred to as C-dots) and nitrogen-functionalized (referred to as NC-dots) carbon dots are systematically studied regarding their properties by using cyclic voltammetry, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy in order to reveal their energetic alignment and possible interaction with the organic semiconductor’s emissive layer. Atomic force microscopy unravels the ultra-thin nature of the interlayers. They are next applied as interlayers between an Al metal cathode and a conventional green-yellow copolymer—in particular, (poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1′,3}-thiadiazole)], F8BT)—used as an emissive layer in fluorescent OLEDs. Electrical measurements indicate that both the C-dot- and NC-dot-based OLED devices present significant improvements in their current and luminescent characteristics, mainly due to a decrease in electron injection barrier. Both C-dots and NC-dots are also used as cathode interfacial layers in OSCs with an inverted architecture. An increase of nearly 10% in power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the devices using the C-dots and NC-dots compared to the reference one is achieved. The application of low-cost solution-processed materials in OLEDs and OSCs may contribute to their wide implementation in large-area applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/1/169organic light emitting diodesorganic solar cellscarbon nanodotssurface functionalizationelectron transport materials |
| spellingShingle | Zoi Georgiopoulou Apostolis Verykios Kalliopi Ladomenou Katerina Maskanaki Georgios Chatzigiannakis Konstantina-Kalliopi Armadorou Leonidas C. Palilis Alexander Chroneos Evangelos K. Evangelou Spiros Gardelis Abd. Rashid bin Mohd Yusoff Athanassios G. Coutsolelos Konstantinos Aidinis Maria Vasilopoulou Anastasia Soultati Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells Nanomaterials organic light emitting diodes organic solar cells carbon nanodots surface functionalization electron transport materials |
| title | Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells |
| title_full | Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells |
| title_short | Carbon Nanodots as Electron Transport Materials in Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Solar Cells |
| title_sort | carbon nanodots as electron transport materials in organic light emitting diodes and solar cells |
| topic | organic light emitting diodes organic solar cells carbon nanodots surface functionalization electron transport materials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/1/169 |
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