Silane derivatives with wide energy gap (approximate to 3.5 eV) containing different electron-withdrawing groups of quinoline and naphthyridine are synthesized and used as the electron transporting materials. The different electron transporting and hole/exciton blocking properties of the silane derivatives are investigated via multilayered structure of organic electrophosphorescent devices by using fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium (Ir(ppy)(3)) as the phosphorescent emitter. 15.4% of maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) corresponding to 56.2 cd A(-1) of maximum current efficiency is obtained with a maximum power efficiency of 58.9 lm W-1 by employing di-(4-(1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl) phenyl) diphenylsilane (DNPS) as the electron transporting material, combining with 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline as the hole blocking layer, which is higher than the performance of conventional Alq(3) device. When changing naphthyridine of DNPS to the electron-withdrawing group of quinoline (di-(4-(isoquinolin-4-yl)phenyl) diphenylsilane), only 11.4% of maximum EQE with 41.4 cd A(-1) of maximum current efficiency and 32.5 lm W-1 of a maximum power efficiency is obtained. These indicate that the electron transporting ability increases while the electron-withdrawing group changes from quinoline to naphthyridine, which is also consistent with the calculated reorganization energy.

In the past two years, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells has significantly increased up to 20.1%. These state-of-the-art new devices surpass other third-generation solar cells to become the most promising rival to the silicon-based solar cells. Since the morphology of the perovskite film is one of the most crucial factors to affect the performance of the device, many approaches have been developed for its improvement. This review provides a systematical summary of the methods for morphology control. Introductions and discussions on the mechanisms and relevant hotspots are also given. Understanding the growth process of perovskite crystallites has great benefits for further efficiency improvement and enlightens us to exploit new technologies for large-scale, low-cost and high-performance perovskite solar cells.

Recently, inverted planar heterojunction (PHJ) perovskite solar cells have been developed rapidly by numerous preparations and relative optimizations. Sequential solution deposition is easy to manipulate but it is difficult to control the thickness and morphology of perovskite films. In this article, we report an improved sequential deposition, named twice dipping-vapor solution deposition (TD-VSD) technology, to accurately achieve superior perovskite films. It is demonstrated that the morphology of perovskite films depended on the substrate temperatures as well as the dipping times. The resulting solar cells showed the power conversion efficiency as high as 11.77% based on the ideal thickness and morphology. This work provides a simple but effective fabrication to well control the perovskite films and enhance the power conversion efficiency for inverted PHJ solar cells.

We manufactured polarizing polymer solar cells (PSCs) utilizing a liquid crystalline polymer (i.e., pol y(2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl) thieno[3,2-b] thiophene) (PBTTT)) as an electron donor material and a material that selectively absorbs polarized light. The oriented PBTTT films prepared using a self-organization process exhibited a high dichroic ratio of ca. 6.35 at the absorption peak. The polarizing PSCs based on oriented PBTTT-PC71BM photoactive layers exhibit an anisotropic photovoltaic effect under polarized illumination along the two orthogonal axes. The polarizing PSCs have a larger power conversion efficiency under parallel-polarized illumination than that of isotropic PV devices under unpolarized illumination. Based on picosecond fluorescent spectra, the parallel excitation produces a slower ground state recovery and a longer exciton lifetime than perpendicular excitation for PBTTT molecules in a uniaxially oriented arrangement. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In high performance perovskite based solar cells, CH3NH3PbI3 is the key material. We carried out a study on charge diffusion in spin-coated CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite thin film by transient fluorescent spectroscopy. A thickness-dependent fluorescent lifetime was found. By coating the film with an electron or hole transfer layer, [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) or 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) respectively, we observed the charge transfer directly through the fluorescence quenching. One-dimensional diffusion model was applied to obtain long charge diffusion distances in thick films, which is similar to 1.7 mu m for electrons and up to similar to 6.3 mu m for holes. Short diffusion distance of few hundreds of nanosecond was also observed in thin films. This thickness dependent charge diffusion explained the formerly reported short charge diffusion distance (similar to 100 nm) in films and resolved its confliction to thick working layer (300-500 nm) in real devices. This study presents direct support to the high performance perovskite solar cells and will benefit the devices' design.

In this study, mesoscopic optical structured 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenyl-1,10-phenanthrolin (bathocuproine, BCP) film was formed to enhance the out-coupling efficiency of a top blue organic light-emitting device (OLED). Based on the refractive index matching layer of BCP on the electrode, the light can be extracted through waveguide mode. Owing to the low glass transition temperature (T-g) of BCP, which easily self-aggregates in a specific environment (controlled temperature and humidity), a mesoscopic optical structure was obtained in 3 h after film formation. Through the nano-aggregated structure, the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode can match the free optic field. The efficiency of the device was enhanced: the max brightness increased from 4500 to 9840 cd.m(-2) and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) increased from 0.42% to 1.14%. This leads to a 2.7-fold enhancement of top emission devices. Moreover, the EL spectra of the devices are also optimized by a blue-shift of 12 nm.