Phenol-Functionalized Perylene Bisimides as Amine-Free Electron Transporting Interlayers for Stable Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells

A new type of cathode interlayer composed of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol-functionalized perylene bisimide (PBI-2P) is successfully applied as an electron transporting layer for fused-ring nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs). The stable contact between these novel electron transporting layers and the representative nonfullerene acceptor Y6 greatly enhances the device stability compared to conventional amine-group containing cathode interlayers. Moreover, the easily formed biradical species in the interlayers yields rather good thickness tolerance of the PBI-2P layer in photovoltaic devices. The OSCs based on the PBI-2P interlayer show a power conversion efficiency up to 17.20% and good stability compared to amino-group functionalized interlayers. The findings demonstrate a promising design principle for cathode interlayer engineering based on pigment chromophores equipped with the 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy groups that are prone to form the respective ultrastable butylphenoxy radicals for stable nonfullerene OSCs.

Automated summary

A new electron transporting layer composed of PBI-2P is successfully applied to nonfullerene organic solar cells, resulting in improved device stability and efficiency.