Versatile control of concentration gradients in non-fullerene acceptor-based bulk heterojunction films using solvent rinse treatments

Solvent rinse treatments using polar methanol (MeOH) and nonpolar n-hexane have been developed for controlling material concentration gradients along the longitudinal direction of non-fullerene acceptor-based bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films comprised of electron donor polymer, PBDB-T and acceptor, ITIC-m. Before the used solvents (chlorobenzene with 1 vol% DIO) were completely evaporated, ITIC-m rich domains were formed at the top surface of the BHJ films after they were rinsed with MeOH, as evidenced by water contact angle, atomic force microscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, which led to enhanced electron transport in the conventional structure of organic solar cells (OSCs). In contrast, after rinsing with n-hexane, ITIC-m rich domains were formed at the bottom surface of the films, which improved electron transport in the inverted structure OSCs. The enhanced carrier transports increased the PCEs (11.80% and 11.15%) in both conventional and inverted OSCs by 10.29% and 10.35% compared with control devices. The versatile control of material concentration gradients is determined to be feasible owing to the chemical interaction of the used substrates (glass, PEDOT:PSS, and ZnO) and rinsing solvents.