Journal Article

Judicious Molecular Design of 5H‑Dithieno3,2‑b:2′,3′‑dPyran‐based Hole‐Transporting Materials for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Liau, Kang‐Ling, Lee, Kun‐Mu, Chu, Wei‐Chen, Chou, Wei‐Chun, Hu, Chia Hui, Lu, Shih‐I, Chiu, Wei‐Hao, Lin, Chia‐Hui, Yang, Ting‐Yu, Li, Sie‐Rong, Tao, Yu‐Tai, Chang, Ya‐Ho, Chen, Chih‐Hung, Hsieh, Hsiao‐Chi, Lee, Mandy M., Chang, Chia‐Chi, Lin, Yan‐Duo, Liu, Yun‐Shuo, Sun, Shih‐Sheng

2025

Overview

The structural modification of hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) is an effective strategy for enhancing photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a series of dithienopyran (DTP)‐based HTMs (Me‐H, Ph‐H, CF3‐H, CF3‐mF, and CF3‐oF) is designed and synthesized by substituting different functional groups on the DTP unit and are used fabricating PSCs. In comparison with Me‐H having two methyl substituents on the dithienopyrano ring, the Ph‐H having two phenyl substituents on the ring exhibits higher PCEs. Notably, the incorporation of trifluoromethyl groups in CF3‐H endows the molecule with a larger dipole moment, deeper HOMO energy level, better film morphology, closer molecular stacking, more efficient defect‐passivation, enhanced hydrophobicity, and better photovoltaic performance when compared with the Ph‐H counterpart. Furthermore, the HTMs of CF3‐mF and CF3‐oF, which feature fluorine‐substituted triphenylamine, demonstrated excellent film‐forming properties, more suitable energy levels, enhanced charge mobility, and improved passivation of the buried interface between HTMs and perovskite. As a result, PSCs employing CF3‐mF and CF3‐oF gave impressive PCEs of 23.41 and 24.13%, respectively. In addition, the large‐area (1.00 cm2) PSCs based on CF3‐oF achieved a PCE of 22.31%. Moreover, the PSCs devices with CF3 series HTMs exhibited excellent long‐term stability under different conditions. A series of dithienopyran (DTP)‐based HTMs are reported by substituting different functional groups, which are applied for high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The trifluoromethyl‐substituted CF3‐oF exhibits remarkable PCEs in both small‐area (0.09 cm2, 24.13%), and large‐area (1.00 cm2, 22.31%) devices, with good stability owing to its superior hole transport, film formation properties, and hydrophobicity.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Design / dithienopyran‐based derivatives / Energy / Fluorine / fluorine‐substituted small molecule / hole‐transporting materials / long‐term stability / Morphology / perovskite solar cells / photo‐energy conversion / Temperature / Thin films