Improving charge transport by the ultrathin QDs interlayer in polymer solar cells

Abstract

Lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) have been incorporated into PTB7:PC₇₁BM BHJ active layers to fabricate polymer solar cells (PSCs) and gather on the top surface of active layers to form an ultrathin interlayer. The PbS QDs ultrathin interlayer with an appropriate thickness increases the carrier transport capacity, exciton dissociation and reduces the carrier recombination, which leads to a higher short circuit current (J_sc) and fill factor (FF). Finally, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) improves from 7.03% (control devices) to 7.87% with an ultrathin interlayer by doping 5% PbS QDs, while the current density (J_sc) and fill factor (FF) enhances from 13.83 mA cm⁻² to 14.81 mA cm⁻² and from 68.70% to 70.85%, respectively.