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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

Yun-Ju Lee ,
Jian Wang ,
Julia W. P. Hsu  and
Diego Barrera
Yun-Ju Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080
Jian Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080
Julia W. P. Hsu
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080
Diego Barrera
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas 75080; Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C. (CIMAV), Unidad Monterrey, Alianza Norte 202, 66600 Apodaca, Nuevo León, México
*
Address all correspondence to Yun-Ju Lee atyjalee@utdallas.edu
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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.

Type
Research Letters
Information
MRS Communications , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , March 2015 , pp. 45 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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