Layered Defect-Filling co-Assembled Carbazole-Based SAMs Deliver 20% Organic Solar Cells and 17% Mini-ModulesShow others and affiliations
2026 (English)In: Nano-Micro Letters, ISSN 2150-5551, Vol. 19, no 1, article id 29
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are widely used as hole-transport layers (HTLs) in organic solar cells (OSCs), yet conventional single-component SAMs often form quasi-monolayers with incomplete coverage and interfacial defects that become increasingly detrimental upon device scaling. Here, we develop a co-assembled multilayered SAM (coSAMu) strategy that combines two SAM molecules, 2PACz and 2Cl-4PACz, with distinct dipoles and steric configurations through blend casting and sequential casting. Photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, and molecular simulations support a layered structure in which a chemisorbed, 2PACz-rich bottom layer primarily sets the indium tin oxide (ITO) work function, while a 2Cl-4PACz-rich upper layer fills interfacial voids, improves molecular packing, and passivates defects. Consistent with this picture, coSAMu promotes a more favorable vertical composition near the ITO surface and suppresses trap-assisted recombination, enabling more efficient charge extraction and collection. Consequently, a representative D18:L8-BO OSC incorporating the sequential-cast coSAMu HTL achieves a power conversion efficiency of 20.1% (0.042 cm2), outperforming pristine 2PACz. Importantly, when scaled to a 17.14 cm2 mini-module (six serially connected subcells), coSAMu delivers 17.0% efficiency versus 12.2% for the 2PACz control. This work demonstrates controlled multilayer co-assembly as an effective strategy for scalable OSC interface engineering that is broadly applicable to multiple donor-acceptor systems.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2026. Vol. 19, no 1, article id 29
Keywords [en]
Organic solar cells, Interface engineering, Self-assembled monolayers, Trap passivation, Scalable photovoltaics, RECOMBINATION
National Category
Physical Sciences
Research subject
Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-112084DOI: 10.1007/s40820-026-02325-2ISI: 001845368000002Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105046951201OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-112084DiVA, id: diva2:2094580
2026-08-242026-08-242026-08-24Bibliographically approved