Rethinking Charge Transport and Recombination in Donor-Diluted Organic Solar Cells

Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Forschungsartikel › Beigetragen › Begutachtung

Beitragende

  • Chen Wang - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)
  • Christopher Wöpke - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)
  • Toni Seiler - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)
  • Jared Faisst - , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (Autor:in)
  • Mathias List - , Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Autor:in)
  • Meike Kuhn - , Universität Bayreuth (Autor:in)
  • Bekcy Joseph - , Professur für Neuartige Elektroniktechnologien (gB/IFW und cfaed), Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Alexander Ehm - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)
  • Dietrich R.T. Zahn - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)
  • Yana Vaynzof - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Professur für Neuartige Elektroniktechnologien (gB/IFW und cfaed), Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Eva M. Herzig - , Universität Bayreuth (Autor:in)
  • Roderick C.I. Mackenzie - , Durham University (Autor:in)
  • Uli Würfel - , Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Autor:in)
  • Maria Saladina - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)
  • Carsten Deibel - , Technische Universität Chemnitz (Autor:in)

Abstract

We systematically investigate PM6:Y12 bulk-heterojunction solar cells with donor fractions ranging from 1% to 45%, linking morphology, charge transport, and recombination to device performance. Complementary structural and spectroscopic methods reveal that a percolating PM6 network forms even at below 5% donor content, with lamellar stacking and vertical composition gradients that do not hinder the charge extraction. The reduction of the effective active layer conductivity toward low donor fractions obeys a three-dimensional percolation model, indicating that charge transport is governed by network topology rather without a pronounced percolation threshold. A transition from nongeminate Langevin recombination to a dispersive Smoluchowski-type loss occurs below 5% donor fraction. The latter regime is also nongeminate, i.e., pertains to recombination of the total charge carrier density. Correspondingly, we observe that the Langevin reduction in the higher donor fractions – mostly dominated by redissociation of electron–hole pairs after encounter – changes toward low donor fractions: in these cases, the nongeminate loss rate exceeds the prediction of the Langevin model. This regime coincides with increasing transport resistance due to topology-limited hole conduction, leading to reduced fill factors despite a high retained charge-generation efficiency. Our results demonstrate that strong donor dilution preserves photogeneration if a continuous donor network is maintained, and unveil how topology-controlled transport and non-Langevin recombination jointly define the performance limits of donor-diluted organic solar blends.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
FachzeitschriftAdvanced materials
PublikationsstatusElektronische Veröffentlichung vor Drucklegung - Juni 2026
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Schlagworte

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

  • Allgemeine Materialwissenschaften - charge transport, conductivity, Langevin reduction factor, nongeminate recombination, organic solar cells, Smoluchowski, transport resistance
  • Werkstoffmechanik - charge transport, conductivity, Langevin reduction factor, nongeminate recombination, organic solar cells, Smoluchowski, transport resistance
  • Maschinenbau - charge transport, conductivity, Langevin reduction factor, nongeminate recombination, organic solar cells, Smoluchowski, transport resistance

Schlagwörter

  • charge transport, conductivity, Langevin reduction factor, nongeminate recombination, organic solar cells, Smoluchowski, transport resistance