Non‐Conjugated Polymer as an Efficient Dopant‐Free Hole‐Transporting Material for Perovskite Solar Cells

• Published in: ChemSusChem 2017-06, Vol.10 (12), p.2578-2584
• Main Authors: Xu, Yachao, Bu, Tongle, Li, Meijin, Qin, Tianshi, Yin, Chengrong, Wang, Nanna, Li, Renzhi, Zhong, Jie, Li, Hai, Peng, Yong, Wang, Jianpu, Xie, Linghai, Huang, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calcium Compounds - chemistry; Chains (polymeric); Chemical synthesis; dopant-free; Electric Power Supplies; Energy consumption; Energy conversion efficiency; Forming; Hole mobility; hole-transporting material; Monomers; non-conjugated polymers; Oxides - chemistry; perovskites solar cells; Photovoltaic cells; Polymer films; Polymerization; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Raw materials; Solar cells; Solar Energy; Temperature; Titanium - chemistry; ultra-thin
• ISSN: 1864-5631; 1864-564X
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201700584

A new non‐conjugated polymer (PVCz‐OMeDAD) with good solution processability was developed to serve as an efficient dopant‐free hole‐transporting material (HTM) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). PVCz‐OMeDAD was simply prepared by the free‐radical polymerization of vinyl monomers, which were synthesized from low‐cost raw materials through three high‐yield synthesis steps. The combination of the flexible non‐conjugated polyvinyl main chain and hole‐transporting methoxydiphenylamine‐substituted carbazole side chains endowed PVCz‐OMeDAD with excellent film‐forming ability, a suitable energy level, and high hole mobility. As a result, by using an ultra‐thin (≈30 nm) PVCz‐OMeDAD film as cost‐effective dopant‐free polymer HTM, the conventional n–i–p‐type PSCs demonstrated a power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 16.09 %, suggesting the great potential of the polymer film for future low‐cost, large‐scale, flexible PSCs applications. Be flexible: By integrating a flexible polyvinyl main chain with carbazole‐based hole‐transporting side chains, a new non‐conjugated polymer (PVCz‐OMeDAD) with excellent film‐forming ability and good hole mobility is designed and synthesized in high yield through a three‐step reaction. By employing the ultra‐thin PVCz‐OMeDAD film (≈30 nm) as dopant‐free hole‐transporting layer, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can realize a power conversion efficiency up to 16.09 %, suggesting the great potential of this non‐conjugated polymer for future low‐cost, large‐scale, flexible PSCs applications.