Ultrafast hole transfer mediated by polaron pairs in all-polymer photovoltaic blends

Rui Wang, Yao Yao, Chunfeng Zhang (), Yindong Zhang, Haijun Bin, Lingwei Xue, Zhi-Guo Zhang (), Xiaoyu Xie, Haibo Ma, Xiaoyong Wang, Yongfang Li and Min Xiao ()
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Rui Wang: Nanjing University
Yao Yao: South China University of Technology
Chunfeng Zhang: Nanjing University
Yindong Zhang: Nanjing University
Haijun Bin: CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lingwei Xue: CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhi-Guo Zhang: CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaoyu Xie: Nanjing University
Haibo Ma: Nanjing University
Xiaoyong Wang: Nanjing University
Yongfang Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Min Xiao: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The charge separation yield at a bulk heterojunction sets the upper efficiency limit of an organic solar cell. Ultrafast charge transfer processes in polymer/fullerene blends have been intensively studied but much less is known about these processes in all-polymer systems. Here, we show that interfacial charge separation can occur through a polaron pair-derived hole transfer process in all-polymer photovoltaic blends, which is a fundamentally different mechanism compared to the exciton-dominated pathway in the polymer/fullerene blends. By utilizing ultrafast optical measurements, we have clearly identified an ultrafast hole transfer process with a lifetime of about 3 ps mediated by photo-excited polaron pairs which has a markedly high quantum efficiency of about 97%. Spectroscopic data show that excitons act as spectators during the efficient hole transfer process. Our findings suggest an alternative route to improve the efficiency of all-polymer solar devices by manipulating polaron pairs.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08361-4

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