Proceedings of International Conference on Perovskite Thin Film Photovoltaics and Perovskite Photonics and Optoelectronics (NIPHO25)
Publication date: 24th April 2025
The application of self-assembled molecules (SAMs) as selective contacts has rocketed during the last four years especially in solar cells due to the impressive enhancement in efficiency and the stability achieved in the devices containing SAMs. These SAMs are molecules of low molecular weight made of an anchoring group that form a covalent bond with the substrate, a linker that influences the molecular packing and ensures the conductivity through the molecule and the terminal group. This terminal group is in direct contact with the photoactive layer determining its packing and crystallization, also affecting the properties at the interface. Therefore, the composition of SAMs deeply influences the interfacial charge dynamics on the device under operational conditions which reflects in the performance and stability. Moreover, SAMs form ultrathin layers. This means that the transmittance of the substrate does not vary significantly upon the addition of a SAM and that the amount of required material is low. In combination with the fact that SAMs can be deposited by dip coating or spin coating, the potential cost of the production of the devices can be lowered. For these reasons, SAMs are an excellent alternative to the traditional hole transport materials such as PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate) or PTAA (poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine), whose instability under operational conditions or its inherent acidity compromises the device stability.
Nanocrystals, based on metal halide perovskites have demonstrated their potential as light sources when forming part of efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). However, operational stability and efficiency are hindered by unstable charge transport layers, with reduced charge mobility and/or poor solvent resistance. In this work, we report the application of two self-assembled molecules (SAMs) as hole transport materials. The structure of the two SAMs, based on the carbazole core, differs in one phenyl ring in the linker; however, the extra ring provides more stability to the devices, even surpassing the one obtained with the widely used polymer PTAA. In addition, due to the structural and electronic characteristics of the SAMs, the efficiency of the devices is also increased.
This work is partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of the Spanish government by the project CNS2022-135483-MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033