Thermal Stability and Reproducibility Enhancement of Organic Solar Cells by Tris(hydroxyquinoline)gallium Dopant Forming a Dual Acceptor Active Layer

Fahmi F. Muhammad; Khaulah Sulaiman

doi:10.14500/aro.10491

Fahmi F. Muhammad Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Kurdistan Region http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4563-9671
Khaulah Sulaiman Low Dimensional Materials Research Centre, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3473-0493

Keywords: Active layer, dual acceptor, Gaq3 dopant, organic solar cell, reproducibility, thermal stability.

Abstract

Nowadays, the main barriers facing organic solar cells (OSCs) from being commercialized and widely applied are their weak thermal stability and reproducibility problems. To tackle these problems, researchers usually consider various strategies which include modification in the devices architectural design, utilizing low energy gap materials, functionalizing their active layers, and the use of various optimization procedures. In this research work, we are specifically focused on the utilization of a small molecular organometallic, tris(hydroxyquinoline)gallium (Gaq3), as a secondary acceptor dopant, aiming at improving thermal stability, and reproducibility of OSCs. All-solution processed technique with the help of spin coater was used to deposit the active layer of the devices. Results showed that the addition of 29% molar fraction of Gaq3 into the devices active layer has considerably improved the thermal stability, photo-absorption, and reproducibly of the solar cells thanks to the excellent thermal stability and electron mobility of Gaq3 molecules. Our devices based on DH6T: PCBM:Gaq3 performed highest stable performance at 180°C, implying higher thermal stability compared to that of the reported P3HT: PCBM:F8BT and PTB7:PCBM: F8BT based solar cells. In spite of improved reproducibility, the efficiency of the devices was increased by 5.8 times compared to that of the control ones.

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Author Biographies

Fahmi F. Muhammad, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Kurdistan Region

Fahmi is an Assistant Professor and Group Leader (SMDRG) at the Department of Physics, Koya University. He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Physics from the University of Sulaimani and University of Mosul in 2004 and 2007, respectively. He completed his PhD at the Department of Physics, University of Malaya in 2012 through working on the Organic Solar Cells incorporating Organometallics. He achieved Post-doctorate Fellow (PDF) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and completed his project in the filed of Organic Electronics/hybrid ternary solar cells. He is also working as Section Editor with ARO Journal.

Khaulah Sulaiman, Low Dimensional Materials Research Centre, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur

Khaulah Sulaiman is Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her current research interests are organic semiconductor device physics, solution process-able organic semiconductor thin films, organic/metal interface and organic solar cells.

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