Issue 45, 2015

Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN): an efficient solution-processable hole transporting layer in organic solar cells

Abstract

Here, we report copper(I)thiocyanate (CuSCN) as an efficient and solution-processable hole transport layer (HTL) in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Three different combinations of the most studied active layers of P3HT:PC61BM, PCDTBT:PC71BM and PTB7:PC71BM were used for photovoltaic device fabrication with the simplest device structure of ITO/CuSCN/active layer/Al. The use of CuSCN as an HTL has improved light absorption within the active layer and thereby leads to up to 5.94% and 4.60% power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) for the active layers of PCDTBT:PC71BM and PTB7:PC71BM, respectively. These results are slightly better when compared to the devices fabricated using thermal deposition of MoO3 and solution processed deposition of PEDOT:PSS as an HTL under similar conditions. We have observed that the annealing temperature for HTLs in organic solar cells has a significant effect on the PCE, specifically the fill factor (FF) and short-circuit current (Jsc). In the present work, the resulting HTLs were characterized using UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for better understanding. Finally, we have provided a further example of solution-processable CuSCN as an efficient HTL in organic solar cells, in general.

Graphical abstract: Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN): an efficient solution-processable hole transporting layer in organic solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Sep 2015
Accepted
13 Oct 2015
First published
15 Oct 2015

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015,3, 11886-11892

Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN): an efficient solution-processable hole transporting layer in organic solar cells

N. Chaudhary, R. Chaudhary, J. P. Kesari, A. Patra and S. Chand, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015, 3, 11886 DOI: 10.1039/C5TC03124A

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