Utilization of perylene diimide derivative doped tin oxide as an electron transport layer for performance enhancement of non-fullerene organic solar cell

Achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE) without compromising device stability is an essential trade-off for commercializing organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, a novel organic-inorganic hybrid material of tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and perylene diimide derivative (PDINO) is introduced as the electron transport layer (ETL) to improve both the device performance and the device stability of non-fullerene OSCs. Compared with the pristine SnO2 NP ETL-based device, not only the PCE of the PM6:IT-4F OSC with SnO2:PDINO as ETL is efficiently improved from 11.3 % to 12.7 %, but the shelf life of the SnO2:PDINO ETL based device is also extended. After being stored in ambient condition without encapsulation for 360 h, the PCE of the modified ETL-based OSC still retains 80 % of its original value. The incorporation of PDINO dopant can provide more favorable interfacial properties between the ETL and the active layer as well as reduced surface defects of SnO2 NP ETL, thus contributing to charge transport efficiency, suppressing molecular recombination, and protecting the active layer from degradation.