DNA Based Hybrid Material for Interface Engineering in Polymer Solar Cells

Anders Elfwing; Wanzhu Cai; Liangqi Ouyang; Xianjie Liu; Yuxin Xia; Zheng Tang; Olle Inganäs

doi:10.1021/acsami.7b17807

DNA Based Hybrid Material for Interface Engineering in Polymer Solar Cells

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2018 Mar 21;10(11):9579-9586. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b17807. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Authors

Anders Elfwing¹, Wanzhu Cai¹, Liangqi Ouyang¹, Xianjie Liu², Yuxin Xia¹, Zheng Tang³, Olle Inganäs¹

Affiliations

¹ Biomolecular and Organic Electronics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology , Linköping University , SE-581 83 Linköping , Sweden.
² Surface Physics and Chemistry Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology , Linköping University , SE-581 83 Linköping , Sweden.
³ Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute for Applied Physics , Technische Universität Dresden , Nöthnitzer Str. 61 , 01187 Dresden , Germany.

PMID: 29505234
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b17807

Abstract

A new solution processable electron transport material (ETM) is introduced for use in photovoltaic devices, which consists of a metallic conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly(4-(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4- b][1,4]dioxin-2-yl-methoxy)-1-butanesulfonic acid (PEDOT-S), and surfactant-functionalized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (named DNA:CTMA:PEDOT-S). This ETM is demonstrated to effectively work for bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices (OPV) based on different electron acceptor materials. The fill factor, the open circuit voltage, and the overall power conversion efficiency of the solar cells with a DNA:CTMA:PEDOT-S modified cathode are comparable to those of devices with a traditional lithium fluoride/aluminum cathode. The new electron transport layer has high optical transmittance, desired work function and selective electron transport. A dipole effect induced by the use of the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMA) is responsible for lowering the electrode work function. The DNA:CTMA complex works as an optical absorption dilutor, while PEDOT-S provides the conducting pathway for electron transport, and allows thicker layer to be used, enabling printing. This materials design opens a new pathway to harness and optimize the electronic and optical properties of printable interface materials.

Keywords: DNA based hybrid material; electron transport material; high optical transmittance; organic photovoltaic device; self-doped polyelectrolyte.