Biopolymer as an electron selective layer for inverted polymer solar cells

In this work, a solution-processable electron selective layer is introduced for inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs). Cationic biopolymer poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) is used as a solution-processable work function modifier of indium-tin-oxide transparent conducting electrode to yield efficient inverted PSCs of 3.3% under AM1.5G illumination, with poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester as the active layer. Devices using PDMAEMA exhibit greater stability in ambient “working conditions” as compared to devices using ZnO, retaining 90% of peak power conversion efficiency after 8 weeks. Therefore, PDMAEMA has great potential as a universal work function modifier material with high robustness.