Copper(I) Thiocyanate (CuSCN) Hole-Transport Layers Processed from Aqueous Precursor Solutions and Their Application in Thin-Film Transistors and Highly Efficient Organic and Organometal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study reports the development of copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) hole-transport layers (HTLs) processed from aqueous ammonia as a novel alternative to conventional n-alkyl sulfide solvents. Wide bandgap (3.4–3.9 eV) and ultrathin (3–5 nm) layers of CuSCN are formed when the aqueous CuSCN–ammine complex solution is spin-cast in air and annealed at 100 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the high compositional purity of the formed CuSCN layers, while the high-resolution valence band spectra agree with first-principles calculations. Study of the hole-transport properties using field-effect transistor measurements reveals that the aqueous-processed CuSCN layers exhibit a fivefold higher hole mobility than films processed from diethyl sulfide solutions with the maximum values approaching 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1. A further interesting characteristic is the low surface roughness of the resulting CuSCN layers, which in the case of solar cells helps to planarize the indium tin oxide anode. Organic bulk heterojunction and planar organometal halide perovskite solar cells based on aqueous-processed CuSCN HTLs yield power conversion efficiency of 10.7% and 17.5%, respectively. Importantly, aqueous-processed CuSCN-based cells consistently outperform devices based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate HTLs. This is the first report on CuSCN films and devices processed via an aqueous-based synthetic route that is compatible with high-throughput manufacturing and paves the way for further developments.
Date Issued
2017-07-28
Date Acceptance
2017-06-13
Citation
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, 2017, 27 (35)
ISSN
1616-301X
Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
Journal / Book Title
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume
27
Issue
35
Copyright Statement
© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. This is the accepted version of the following article: N. Wijeyasinghe, A. Regoutz, F. Eisner, T. Du, L. Tsetseris, Y.-H. Lin, H. Faber, P. Pattanasattayavong, J. Li, F. Yan, M. A. McLachlan, D. J. Payne, M. Heeney, T. D. Anthopoulos, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2017, 27, 1701818, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201701818
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
EPSRC
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000411027300002&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/K004913/1
EP/K503381/1
EP/G037515/1
EP/L016702/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
Physics
copper(I) thiocyanate
hole-transport layers
organic solar cells
perovskite solar cells
transparent semiconductors and transistors
LIGHT-EMITTING-DIODES
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON
INDIUM-TIN-OXIDE
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
DEVICES
ELECTRODEPOSITION
TEMPERATURE
PERFORMANCE
DEPOSITION
CONVERSION
03 Chemical Sciences
09 Engineering
02 Physical Sciences
Materials
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 1701818