journal article·2025-07Open access

Enhancing UV Stability and Charge Extraction in Organic Solar Cells with Phenyl‐Linked Aromatic Self‐Assembled Monolayer

Nan Zhang, Wenlin Jiang, Yidan An, Qi Liu, Gengxin Du, Tian Xia, Desui Chen, Chun‐To Wong, Xiao Cheng Zeng, Francis R. Lin, Alex K.‐Y. Jen, Hin‐Lap Yip

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 35· Issue 27

Abstract

Abstract Carbazole‐derived self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) are extensively employed as effective hole‐extracting layer (HEL) in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) for enhancing interfacial modification and carrier extraction. Despite their utility, the performance of these SAMs is significantly influenced by the length of the alkyl linker commonly used, and the electron‐rich carbazole moiety is susceptible to photo‐oxidation, which compromises the stability of the devices. In this study, a novel SAM is introduced, utilizing a rigid phenyl linker in place of the conventional flexible alkyl linker. This molecular design fosters a more dense and orderly SAM packing and facilitates electron delocalization in the electron‐rich carbazole unit, thereby enhancing both charge extraction and the photo/electrochemical stability of the SAM. The improvements at the molecular level have been effectively translated to the device level, realizing a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.70% and notable operational stability (T80 over 1100 h) in resultant OPV devices. Crucially, this includes enhanced resistance to ultraviolet irradiation. These results underscore the significance of molecular design in developing SAM‐based HELs to optimize both the efficiency and stability of OPVs.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics · Conducting polymers and applications · Perovskite Materials and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Materials Science and Engineering City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

Center of Super‐Diamond and Advanced Films City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

School of Energy and Environmental Science City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

State Key Laboratory for Marine Pollution City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 China

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