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General method to synthesize ultrasmall metal oxide nanoparticle suspensions for hole contact layers in organic photovoltaic devices

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Abstract

Solution-processed hole contact layers (HCLs) of metal oxide nanoparticle (NP) films improve performance of organic photovoltaics (OPVs), but have thus far required harsh post-deposition thermal or plasma treatments. Here, we describe a general method to synthesize suspensions of ultrasmall (1–2 nm) MoO3, WO3, NiOx, and CoOx NPs in n-butanol. Spin-coated metal oxide NP films with no post-deposition treatment exhibit high work function and ionization energy consistent with the oxidation states of the metal cations. Metal oxide NP HCLs demonstrate performance matching those of reference conventional and inverted OPVs containing PEDOT:PSS and evaporated MoO3.

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Acknowledgments

This project was sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) DMR-1305893 and University of Texas at Dallas. D.B. acknowledges the support of Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologίa (CONACyT) NL-2010-C33-149216. J. W.P.H. acknowledges the support from Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair in Nanoelectronics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas, 75080, USA

    Yun-Ju Lee, Jian Wang, Julia W. P. Hsu & Diego Barrera

  2. Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C. (CIMAV), Unidad Monterrey, Alianza Norte 202, 66600, Apodaca, Nuevo León, México

    Diego Barrera

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  1. Yun-Ju Lee
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Correspondence to Yun-Ju Lee.

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For supplementary material for this article, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.5

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Lee, YJ., Wang, J., Hsu, J.W.P. et al. General method to synthesize ultrasmall metal oxide nanoparticle suspensions for hole contact layers in organic photovoltaic devices. MRS Communications 5, 45–50 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.5

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