Peak Force Visible Microscopy for Determination of Exciton Diffusion Length in Organic Photovoltaic Blends

In this article, we developed a new nano spectroscopic technique, peak force visible (PF-vis) microscopy, which is based on the peak force tapping mode in an atomic force microscope to both visualize nanoscale morphology and estimate exciton diffusion lengths of donor domains in organic photovoltaic blends. Nano phase-separations in P3HT:PCBM and TFB:PCBM blend films were clearly revealed by PF-vis microscopy with a high spatial resolution less than 10 nm. A model that correlates PF-vis signal and the exciton diffusion length was also developed to estimate the diffusion lengths of P3HT and TFB to be 2.9±0.3 and 9.0±1.5 nm, respectively. PF-vis microscopy is expected to assist the evaluation of OPV materials, therefore accelerating the pace of innovation of OPVs

Multicolor light emission in manganese-based metal halide composites

Manganese-based organic-inorganic metal halide composites have been considered as promising candidates for lead-free emitters. However, in spite of their excellent luminescence properties in green and red regions, blue emission-a critical component for white light generation-from pristine manganese-based composites is currently missing. In this work, we successfully achieve blue luminescence center in manganese-based composites through selecting specific organic component methylbenzylamine (MBA). Our approach is fundamentally different from green and red emission in manganese-based composites, which result from manganese-halide frameworks. The coexistence of different luminescence centers in our manganese-based composites is confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) results. As a result of different photoluminescence excitation responses of different emission centers, the resulting emission color can be tuned with selecting different excitation wavelengths. Specifically, a white light emission can be obtained with Commission Internationale de leclairage coordinates of (0.33, 0.35) upon the 330 nm excitation. We further demonstrate the promise of our manganese-based composites in the anti-counterfeiting technology and multicolor lighting. Our results provide a novel strategy for full-spectral emission in manganese-based organic-inorganic metal halide composites and lay a solid foundation for a range of new applications. (C) 2022 Author(s).Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [Dnr KAW 2019.0082]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoeping University [2009-00971]; China Scholarship Council (CSC)</p

Ultra-high open-circuit voltage of tin perovskite solar cells via an electron transporting layer design.

Tin perovskite is rising as a promising candidate to address the toxicity and theoretical efficiency limitation of lead perovskite. However, the voltage and efficiency of tin perovskite solar cells are much lower than lead counterparts. Herein, indene-C60 bisadduct with higher energy level is utilized as an electron transporting material for tin perovskite solar cells. It suppresses carrier concentration increase caused by remote doping, which significantly reduces interface carriers recombination. Moreover, indene-C60 bisadduct increases the maximum attainable photovoltage of the device. As a result, the use of indene-C60 bisadduct brings unprecedentedly high voltage of 0.94 V, which is over 50% higher than that of 0.6 V for device based on [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester. The device shows a record power conversion efficiency of 12.4% reproduced in an accredited independent photovoltaic testing lab

Ultra-high open-circuit voltage of tin perovskite solar cells via an electron transporting layer design.

Tin perovskite is rising as a promising candidate to address the toxicity and theoretical efficiency limitation of lead perovskite. However, the voltage and efficiency of tin perovskite solar cells are much lower than lead counterparts. Herein, indene-C60 bisadduct with higher energy level is utilized as an electron transporting material for tin perovskite solar cells. It suppresses carrier concentration increase caused by remote doping, which significantly reduces interface carriers recombination. Moreover, indene-C60 bisadduct increases the maximum attainable photovoltage of the device. As a result, the use of indene-C60 bisadduct brings unprecedentedly high voltage of 0.94 V, which is over 50% higher than that of 0.6 V for device based on [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester. The device shows a record power conversion efficiency of 12.4% reproduced in an accredited independent photovoltaic testing lab

A Multi-functional Molecular Modifier Enabling Efficient Large-Area Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes

With rapid progress in perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), the electroluminescence performance of large-area is of increasing interest. We investigated why large-area performance lags behind that achieved in laboratory-scale devices and found that defects in perovskite films—emerging from thermal convection during solvent evaporation, as well as electronic traps formed during perovskite crystallization—are chief causes. Here, we report a molecular modification strategy that simultaneously eliminates pinholes in perovskite layers by controlling the dynamics of film formation and that passivates defects in perovskites by incorporating Br species, thereby preventing shorts and non-radiative recombination. The molecular modifier 1,3,5-tris (bromomethyl) benzene (TBB) also modulates the electronic structure of injection or transport materials to achieve improved charge injection and balanced charge transport. As a result, we demonstrate 20 mm × 20 mm green perovskite nanocrystal LEDs that achieve an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of over 16%, a record for large-area PeLEDs.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 51675322, 61605109, and 61735004), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (no. 2016YFB0401702), the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (no. 19010500600), and the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. D.Z. also thanks the financial support by the Science and Technology Program of Sichuan Province (no. 2020JDJQ0030) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (no. YJ201955)

In-situ growth of low-dimensional perovskite-based insular nanocrystals for highly efficient light emitting diodes

Regulation of perovskite growth plays a critical role in the development of high-performance optoelectronic devices. However, judicious control of the grain growth for perovskite light emitting diodes is elusive due to its multiple requirements in terms of morphology, composition, and defect. Herein, we demonstrate a supramolecular dynamic coordination strategy to regulate perovskite crystallization. The combined use of crown ether and sodium trifluoroacetate can coordinate with A site and B site cations in ABX(3) perovskite, respectively. The formation of supramolecular structure retard perovskite nucleation, while the transformation of supramolecular intermediate structure enables the release of components for slow perovskite growth. This judicious control enables a segmented growth, inducing the growth of insular nanocrystal consist of low-dimensional structure. Light emitting diode based on this perovskite film eventually brings a peak external quantum efficiency up to 23.9%, ranking among the highest efficiency achieved. The homogeneous nano-island structure also enables high-efficiency large area (1 cm(2)) device up to 21.6%, and a record high value of 13.6% for highly semi-transparent ones.Funding Agencies|National Natural Science Foundation of China [61935016, 92056119, 22175118, 62288102, 62274135]; National Key Research and Development Program of China [2021YFA0715502]; Double First-Class Initiative Fund of ShanghaiTech University; Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality [20XD1402500, 20JC1415800]; Bertil och Britt Svenssons Stiftelse; Swedish Energy Agency [P2022-00394]</p

Bidentate Ligand-Passivated CsPbI₃ Perovskite Nanocrystals for Stable Near-Unity Photoluminescence Quantum Yield and Efficient Red Light-Emitting Diodes

Although halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are promising materials for optoelectronic devices, they suffer severely from chemical and phase instabilities. Moreover, the common capping ligands like oleic acid and oleylamine that encapsulate the NCs will form an insulating layer, precluding their utility in optoelectronic devices. To overcome these limitations, we develop a postsynthesis passivation process for CsPbI₃ NCs by using a bidentate ligand, namely 2,2′-iminodibenzoic acid. Our passivated NCs exhibit narrow red photoluminescence with exceptional quantum yield (close to unity) and substantially improved stability. The passivated NCs enabled us to realize red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with 5.02% external quantum efficiency and 748 cd/m² luminance, surpassing by far LEDs made from the nonpassivated NCs