New Conjugated Molecules with Two and Three Dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) Moieties Substituted at meta Positions of Benzene toward p‐ and n‐Type Organic Photovoltaic Materials

Two conjugated molecules, TADPP3 and TADPP2‐TT , are reported, in which three and two dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) moieties, respectively, are substituted at the meta positions of benzene. Based on cyclic voltammetry and absorption data, TADPP3 and TADPP2‐TT possess similar HOMO and LUMO energies of about ?5.2 and ?3.4 eV, respectively. Thin films of TADPP3 and TADPP2‐TT exhibit p‐type semiconducting behavior with hole mobilities of 2.36×10^?3 and 3.76×10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 after thermal annealing. Molecules TADPP3 and TADPP2‐TT were utilized as p‐type photovoltaic materials to fabricate organic solar cells after blending with phenyl C₇₁ butyric acid methyl ester ( PC₇₁BM ) and phenyl C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester ( PC₆₁BM ). The relatively low J_SC and fill factor values can be attributed to poor film morphologies based on AFM and XRD studies. A solar cell with a thin film of TADPP3 with PC₇₁BM in a weight ratio of 1:2 exhibits a high open‐circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.99 V and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.47 %. Interestingly, TADPP3 can also be employed as an n‐type photovoltaic material. The blended thin film of TADPP3 with P3HT in a weight ratio of 1:2 gave a high V_OC of 1.11 V and a PCE of 1.08 % after thermal annealing.     

Efficient Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based Small‐Molecule Bulk‐Heterojunction Solar Cells with Different Electron‐Donating End‐Groups

A series of small molecules that contained identical π‐spacers (ethyne), a central diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) unit, and different aromatic electron‐donating end‐groups were synthesized and used in organic solar cells (OSCs) to study the effect of electron‐donating groups on the device performance. The three compounds, DPP‐A‐Ph , DPP‐A‐Na , and DPP‐A‐An , possessed intense absorption bands that covered a wide range, from 350 to 750 nm, and relatively low HOMO energy levels, from ?5.50 to ?5.55 eV. DPP‐A‐An , which contained anthracene end‐groups, demonstrated a stronger absorbance and a higher hole mobility than DPP‐A‐Ph , which contained phenyl groups, and DPP‐A‐Na , which contained naphthalene units. The power‐conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of OSCs based on organic:PC₇₁BM blends (1:1, w/w) with a processed DIO additive were 3.93 % for DPP‐A‐An , 3.02 % for DPP‐Na , and 2.26 % for DPP‐A‐Ph . These findings suggest that a DPP core that is functionalized with electron‐donating capping groups constitutes a promising new class of solution‐processable small molecules for OSC applications.     

Hydrophilic Conjugated Polymers with Large Bandgaps and Deep‐Lying HOMO Levels as an Efficient Cathode Interlayer in Inverted Polymer Solar Cells

Two hydrophilic conjugated polymers, PmP‐NOH and PmP36F‐NOH, with polar diethanol­amine on the side chains and main chain structures of poly(meta‐phenylene) and poly(meta‐phenylene‐alt‐3,6‐fluorene), respectively, are successfully synthesized. The films of PmP‐NOH and PmP36F‐NOH show absorption edges at 340 and 343 nm, respectively. The calculated optical bandgaps of the two polymers are 3.65 and 3.62 eV, respectively, the largest ones so far reported for hydrophilic conjugated polymers. PmP‐NOH and PmP36F‐NOH also possess deep‐lying highest occupied molecular orbital levels of −6.19 and −6.15 eV, respectively. Inserting PmP‐NOH and PmP36F‐NOH as a cathode interlayer in inverted polymer solar cells with a PTB7/PC₇₁BM blend as the active layer, high power conversion efficiencies of 8.58% and 8.33%, respectively, are achieved, demonstrating that the two hydrophilic polymers are excellent interlayers for efficient inverted polymer solar cells.

     

Improvement in the light conversion efficiency of silicon solar cell by spin coating of CuO,ZnO nanoparticles and CuO/ZnO mixed metal nanocomposite material

Synthesis of pure Zinc oxide (ZnO), Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) and their (ZnO/CuO) nanocomposites (NCs) in 1:1 M ratio were successfully prepared by co-precipitation method. The structural properties of the as synthesized nanoparticles and nanocomposite materials were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Optical band-gap studies were done using UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy. Photovoltaic properties of pure ZnO NPs, CuO NPs and ZnO/CuO NCs coated over a single-crystalline silicon solar cell were carried out to compare improvement of light-conversion efficiency in coated solar cell. The maximum light conversion efficiencies were found to be of 8.02% for CuO (3 mg/ml concentration) and 7.28% for ZnO NPs (3 mg/ml concentration), whereas that of mixed metal nanocomposite CuO/ZnO NCs was found to be 7.62%. at very low concentration of 1 mg/ml. This indicates with low concentration of mixed metal NCs an improvement in light efficiency can be obtained. The enhancement in efficiency could be due to formation of p - n heterojunction by CuO/ZnO NCs composites which enhances the number of electrons and holes participating in conduction on the surface.     

反式钙钛矿电池超薄空穴传输层研究进展

空穴传输层(HTLs)厚度对反式钙钛矿太阳能电池(PSCs)性能具有重大影响,因其显著影响太阳光透过和HTLs的空穴传输性能。几个纳米至十几个纳米厚度的超薄HTLs在减少伴生吸收、电荷传输损失和材料消耗等方面具有明显优势。目前,有许多成熟的制备超薄无机HTLs的方法,并在反式和叠层PSCs中得到广泛研究与应用。最近,一些关于有机超薄HTLs的新型制备方法也展现出良好的性能并逐渐引起相关领域研究者关注。在此,本文主要总结反式PSCs中超薄HTLs的研究进展与应用,关注其未来发展的挑战和方向,为该领域进一步的研究提供参考。     

钙钛矿太阳能电池的商业化进展与挑战

钙钛矿太阳电池是一项颠覆性的光伏技术,具有能量转化效率高、生产成本低、制备工艺简单等优势。当前,钙钛矿太阳能电池的认证效率已达25.7%,但其面临着严重的商业化瓶颈,如稳定性差、模组效率相对低、铅毒性等,且这些问题相互关联。本文简述了钙钛矿太阳能电池的工作原理和器件结构,并归纳总结了在解决钙钛矿太阳能电池稳定性、封装和模组化等商业化瓶颈问题方面的主要研究进展。最后,本文提出了钙钛矿光伏商业化进程中值得关注的解决措施。     

Lights and Shadows of DMSO as Solvent for Tin Halide Perovskites

In 2020 dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the ever-present solvent for tin halide perovskites, was identified as an oxidant for Sn^II. Nonetheless, alternatives are lacking and few efforts have been devoted to replacing it. To understand this trend it is indispensable to learn the importance of DMSO on the development of tin halide perovskites. Its unique properties have allowed processing compact thin-films to be integrated into tin perovskite solar cells. Creative approaches for controlling the perovskite crystallization or increasing its stability to oxidation have been developed relying on DMSO-based inks. However, increasingly sophisticated strategies appear to lead the field to a plateau of power conversion efficiency in the range of 10–15 %. And, while DMSO-based formulations have performed in encouraging means so far, we should also start considering their potential limitations. In this concept article, we discuss the benefits and limitations of DMSO-based tin perovskite processing.     

太阳能光催化分解水制氢※

利用太阳能光催化分解水制氢是解决能源环境问题并实现太阳能有效转化和储存最有前途的技术之一, 这一“圣杯”式反应经过几十年不懈努力取得了诸多重要研究进展. 本文将综述光催化分解水制氢体系的基本概念、活性测试方法与注意事项、光催化材料种类等; 并从光催化分解水制氢的光吸收、光生电荷分离和表面催化反应等基本过程和关键科学问题的角度总结其重要研究进展, 最后对于太阳能光催化分解水制氢的挑战和潜在的发展方向进行分析和展望. 希望通过本综述的简要介绍能让刚从事光催化分解水制氢研究的青年科技人员清晰地了解掌握该领域的一些基本概念、操作规范、研究总体进展和现状等.     

紫外光辐照下CH3NH3PbI3基钙钛矿太阳能电池失效机制

随着光伏产业的不断发展,有机无机杂化钙钛矿太阳能电池的研发成为科学与工业界广泛关注的焦点。到目前为止,其光电转换效率已经提高到了25.2%,成为替代硅基太阳能电池的核心方案之一。然而,钙钛矿太阳能电池的稳定性较差,容易受到环境中氧气、水分、温度甚至光照的影响,这严重制约了其大规模推广与应用。大量科学研究表明,如何避免紫外辐照下有机无机杂化钙钛矿太阳能电池的性能衰减,对于提高钙钛矿太阳能电池的光照稳定性至关重要。然而到目前为止,仍然没有系统的工作来对紫外辐照下钙钛矿太阳能电池性能以及微结构演化过程进行详细的表征与分析。本文中,我们利用聚焦离子束-扫描电子显微分析(FIB-SEM)以及球差校正透射电子显微分析(TEM)等技术,全面地研究了紫外辐照过程中有机无机杂化钙钛矿太阳能电池性能变化规律以及电池微结构演化特征。实验结果表明,紫外辐照过程中太阳能电池内部会形成0.5–0.6 V的内建电场,钙钛矿中的I^-离子在电场的驱动下向金属Au电极和空穴传输层2, 2’, 7, 7’-四[N, N-二(4-甲氧基苯基)氨基]-9, 9'-螺二芴(Spiro-OMeTAD)一侧迁移;随后,空穴传输层与金电极的界面处,碘离子与光生空穴一起与金电极发生反应,将金属态Au氧化成离子态Au⁺。而Au⁺离子则在内建电场的驱动下反向迁移穿过钙钛矿MAPbI₃层,直接被SnO₂和MAPbI₃界面处的电子还原形成金属Au纳米团簇。除此之外,紫外辐照过程中钙钛矿太阳能电池性能降低的同时,往往伴随着Spiro-OMeTAD与钙钛矿界面处物质迁移、钙钛矿薄膜内晶界展宽以及Au纳米颗粒周围MAPbI₃物相分解等现象。以上各种因素的协同作用,共同导致了紫外光照下有机无机杂化钙钛矿太阳能电池光电转换性能(PCE)、开路电压(V_oc)以及短路电流(J_sc)等性能参数的急剧下降。     

Adamantyl Side Chains as Anti-Aggregating Moieties in Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Designing and evaluating novel dye concepts is crucial for the development of the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In our recent report, the novel concept of tethering the anti-aggregation additive chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) to dyes for DSSC was introduced. Based on the performance improvements seen for this modification, the aim of this study is to see if a simplified anti-aggregation unit could achieve similar results. The following study reports the synthesis and photovoltaic characterization of two novel dyes decorated with the steric ethyladamantyl moiety on the π-spacer, and on the triarylamine donor. This modification is demonstrated to be successful in increasing the photovoltages in devices employing copper-based electrolytes compared to the non-modified reference dye. The best photovoltaic performance is achieved by a device prepared with the adamantyl decorated donor dye and CDCA, this device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 6.1 % (Short-circuit current=8.3 mA cm⁻², Open-circuit voltage=1054 mV, Fill factor=0.69). The improved photovoltaic performance seen for the adamantyl decorated donor demonstrate the potential of ethyladamantyl side chains as a tool to ensure surface protection of TiO₂.