Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells

Conjugated polymers with ionic pendant groups (CPEs) are receiving increasing attention as solution-processed interfacial materials for organic solar cells (OSCs). Various anionic CPEs have been successfully used, on top of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrodes, as solution-processed anode interlayers (...

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Main Authors: Elisa Lassi, Benedetta Maria Squeo, Roberto Sorrentino, Guido Scavia, Simona Mrakic-Sposta, Maristella Gussoni, Barbara Vercelli, Francesco Galeotti, Mariacecilia Pasini, Silvia Luzzati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/3/763
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author Elisa Lassi
Benedetta Maria Squeo
Roberto Sorrentino
Guido Scavia
Simona Mrakic-Sposta
Maristella Gussoni
Barbara Vercelli
Francesco Galeotti
Mariacecilia Pasini
Silvia Luzzati
author_facet Elisa Lassi
Benedetta Maria Squeo
Roberto Sorrentino
Guido Scavia
Simona Mrakic-Sposta
Maristella Gussoni
Barbara Vercelli
Francesco Galeotti
Mariacecilia Pasini
Silvia Luzzati
author_sort Elisa Lassi
collection DOAJ
description Conjugated polymers with ionic pendant groups (CPEs) are receiving increasing attention as solution-processed interfacial materials for organic solar cells (OSCs). Various anionic CPEs have been successfully used, on top of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrodes, as solution-processed anode interlayers (AILs) for conventional devices with direct geometry. However, the development of CPE AILs for OSC devices with inverted geometry is an important topic that still needs to be addressed. Here, we have designed three anionic CPEs bearing alkyl-potassium-sulfonate side chains. Their functional behavior as anode interlayers has been investigated in P3HT:PC<sub>61</sub>BM (poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) devices with an inverted geometry, using a hole collecting silver electrode evaporated on top. Our results reveal that to obtain effective anode modification, the CPEs’ conjugated backbone has to be tailored to grant self-doping and to have a good energy-level match with the photoactive layer. Furthermore, the sulfonate moieties not only ensure the solubility in polar orthogonal solvents, induce self-doping via a right choice of the conjugated backbone, but also play a role in the gaining of hole selectivity of the top silver electrode.
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spelling doaj.art-be6d9488d6224fd1af0c74f31f0d7f722023-12-03T12:05:15ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-02-0126376310.3390/molecules26030763Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar CellsElisa Lassi0Benedetta Maria Squeo1Roberto Sorrentino2Guido Scavia3Simona Mrakic-Sposta4Maristella Gussoni5Barbara Vercelli6Francesco Galeotti7Mariacecilia Pasini8Silvia Luzzati9Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, CNR-IFC, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, CNR-ICMATE, Via Roberto Cozzi 53, 20125 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyInstitute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta ”-SCITEC, National Research Council, CNR-SCITEC, via Corti 12, 20133 Milan, ItalyConjugated polymers with ionic pendant groups (CPEs) are receiving increasing attention as solution-processed interfacial materials for organic solar cells (OSCs). Various anionic CPEs have been successfully used, on top of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrodes, as solution-processed anode interlayers (AILs) for conventional devices with direct geometry. However, the development of CPE AILs for OSC devices with inverted geometry is an important topic that still needs to be addressed. Here, we have designed three anionic CPEs bearing alkyl-potassium-sulfonate side chains. Their functional behavior as anode interlayers has been investigated in P3HT:PC<sub>61</sub>BM (poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) devices with an inverted geometry, using a hole collecting silver electrode evaporated on top. Our results reveal that to obtain effective anode modification, the CPEs’ conjugated backbone has to be tailored to grant self-doping and to have a good energy-level match with the photoactive layer. Furthermore, the sulfonate moieties not only ensure the solubility in polar orthogonal solvents, induce self-doping via a right choice of the conjugated backbone, but also play a role in the gaining of hole selectivity of the top silver electrode.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/3/763conjugated polyelectrolytesinverted organic solar cellsanode interfacial layers
spellingShingle Elisa Lassi
Benedetta Maria Squeo
Roberto Sorrentino
Guido Scavia
Simona Mrakic-Sposta
Maristella Gussoni
Barbara Vercelli
Francesco Galeotti
Mariacecilia Pasini
Silvia Luzzati
Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
Molecules
conjugated polyelectrolytes
inverted organic solar cells
anode interfacial layers
title Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
title_full Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
title_fullStr Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
title_short Sulfonate-Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Anode Interfacial Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
title_sort sulfonate conjugated polyelectrolytes as anode interfacial layers in inverted organic solar cells
topic conjugated polyelectrolytes
inverted organic solar cells
anode interfacial layers
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/3/763
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AT guidoscavia sulfonateconjugatedpolyelectrolytesasanodeinterfaciallayersininvertedorganicsolarcells
AT simonamrakicsposta sulfonateconjugatedpolyelectrolytesasanodeinterfaciallayersininvertedorganicsolarcells
AT maristellagussoni sulfonateconjugatedpolyelectrolytesasanodeinterfaciallayersininvertedorganicsolarcells
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