Sequential Deposition: Optimization of Solvent Swelling for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Organic solar cells based on a typical DPP polymer were systematically optimized by a solvent swelling assisted sequential deposition process. We investigated the influence of solvent swelling on the morphology and structure order of the swollen film and the resultant device performance. Morphological and structural characterization confirmed the realization of ideal bulk heterojunctions using a suitable swelling solvent. A trilayered morphology was also found with the conjugated polymer concentrated bottom layer, PC71BM concentrated top layer, and interpenetrated networks of donor and acceptor in the middle by solvent swelling instead of thermal annealing in the sequential solution processing method. We proposed a simple strategy to optimize the sequential deposition fabricated devices by tuning the concentration of the PC71BM solution instead of thermal annealing. The best device showed a PCE of 7.59% with a Voc of 0.61 V, J(sc) of 17.95 mA/cm(2), and FF of 69.6%, which is the highest reported efficiency for devices fabricated by a sequential processing method and among the best results for DPP polymers.