Although several transparent conducting materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and conducting polymers have been intensively explored as flexible electrodes in optoelectronic devices, their ...insufficient electrical conductivity, low work function, and complicated electrode fabrication processes have limited their practical use. Herein, a 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene film with transparent conducting electrode (TCE) properties, including high electrical conductivity (≈11 670 S cm−1) and high work function (≈5.1 eV), which are achieved by combining a simple solution processing with modulation of surface composition, is described. A chemical neutralization strategy of a conducting‐polymer hole‐injection layer is used to prevent detrimental surface oxidation and resulting degradation of the electrode film. Use of the MXene electrode in an organic light‐emitting diode leads to a current efficiency of ≈102.0 cd A−1 and an external quantum efficiency of ≈28.5% ph/el, which agree well with the theoretical maximum values from optical simulations. The results demonstrate the strong potential of MXene as a solution‐processable electrode in optoelectronic devices and provide a guideline for use of MXenes as TCEs in low‐cost flexible optoelectronic devices.
A solution‐processed transparent conducting electrode with desirable properties including high electrical conductivity (≈11 668 S cm−1) and work function (≈5.1 eV) is achieved by using a 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene thin film. Precise control of the surface chemical composition and a neutralized hole‐injection layer prevent detrimental surface/interface oxidation of the MXene and enable a high‐efficiency organic light‐emitting diode that uses the solution‐processed MXene electrode.
Metal halide perovskites have been in the limelight in recent years due to their enormous potential for use in optoelectronic devices, owing to their unique combination of properties, such as high ...absorption coefficient, long charge‐carrier diffusion lengths, and high defect tolerance. Perovskite‐based solar cells and light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have achieved remarkable breakthroughs in a comparatively short amount of time. As of writing, a certified power conversion efficiency of 22.7% and an external quantum efficiency of over 10% have been achieved for perovskite solar cells and LEDs, respectively. Interfaces and defects have a critical influence on the properties and operational stability of metal halide perovskite optoelectronic devices. Therefore, interface and defect engineering are crucial to control the behavior of the charge carriers and to grow high quality, defect‐free perovskite crystals. Herein, a comprehensive review of various strategies that attempt to modify the interfacial characteristics, control the crystal growth, and understand the defect physics in metal halide perovskites, for both solar cell and LED applications, is presented. Lastly, based on the latest advances and breakthroughs, perspectives and possible directions forward in a bid to transcend what has already been achieved in this vast field of metal halide perovskite optoelectronic devices are discussed.
The latest breakthroughs in interface and defect engineering as applied to metal halide perovskite solar cells and light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are reviewed in order to shed light on their necessity and importance in tuning the optoelectronic properties of devices in an attempt to realize the best‐performing solar cells and LEDs.
Manipulation of grain boundaries in polycrystalline perovskite is an essential consideration for both the optoelectronic properties and environmental stability of solar cells as the ...solution-processing of perovskite films inevitably introduces many defects at grain boundaries. Though small molecule-based additives have proven to be effective defect passivating agents, their high volatility and diffusivity cannot render perovskite films robust enough against harsh environments. Here we suggest design rules for effective molecules by considering their molecular structure. From these, we introduce a strategy to form macromolecular intermediate phases using long chain polymers, which leads to the formation of a polymer-perovskite composite cross-linker. The cross-linker functions to bridge the perovskite grains, minimizing grain-to-grain electrical decoupling and yielding excellent environmental stability against moisture, light, and heat, which has not been attainable with small molecule defect passivating agents. Consequently, all photovoltaic parameters are significantly enhanced in the solar cells and the devices also show excellent stability.
Intrinsically, detrimental defects accumulating at the surface and grain boundaries limit both the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells. Small molecules and bulkier polymers with ...functional groups are utilized to passivate these ionic defects but usually suffer from volatility and precipitation issues, respectively. Here, starting from the addition of small monomers in the PbI2 precursor, a polymerization‐assisted grain growth strategy is introduced in the sequential deposition method. With a polymerization process triggered during the PbI2 film annealing, the bulkier polymers formed will be adhered to the grain boundaries, retaining the previously established interactions with PbI2. After perovskite formation, the polymers anchored on the boundaries can effectively passivate undercoordinated lead ions and reduce the defect density. As a result, a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.0% is obtained, together with a prolonged lifetime where 85.7% and 91.8% of the initial PCE remain after 504 h continuous illumination and 2208 h shelf storage, respectively.
A polymerization‐assisted grain growth strategy in the sequential deposition method of perovskite thin films is demonstrated by triggering a polymerization process during PbI2 film annealing. This strategy effectively passivates undercoordinated lead ions, reduces defect density, and boosts power conversion efficiency up to 23.0%, together with a prolonged lifetime.
This review outlines problems and progress in development of solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (SOLEDs) in industry and academia. Solution processing has several advantages such as low ...consumption of materials, low-cost processing, and large-area manufacturing. However, use of a solution process entails complications, such as the need for solvent resistivity and solution-processable materials, and yields SOLEDs that have limited luminous efficiency, severe roll-off characteristics, and short lifetime compared to OLEDs fabricated using thermal evaporation. These demerits impede production of practical SOLED displays. This review outlines the industrial demands for commercial SOLEDs and the current status of SOLED development in industries and academia, and presents research guidelines for the development of SOLEDs that have high efficiency, long lifetime, and good processability to achieve commercialization.
The operational instability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is known to mainly originate from the migration of ionic species (or charged defects) under a potential gradient. Compositional ...engineering of the “A” site cation of the ABX3 perovskite structure has been shown to be an effective route to improve the stability of PSCs. Here, the effect of size‐mismatch‐induced lattice distortions on the ion migration energetics and operational stability of PSCs is investigated. It is observed that the size mismatch of the mixed “A” site composition films and devices leads to a steric effect to impede the migration pathways of ions to increase the activation energy of ion migration, which is demonstrated through multiple theoretical and experimental evidence. Consequently, the mixed composition devices exhibit significantly improved thermal stability under continuous heating at 85 °C and operational stability under continuous 1 sun illumination, with an extrapolated lifetime of 2011 h, compared to the 222 h of the reference device.
A steric engineering strategy to impede ion migration in perovskite thin films is demonstrated where ion migration is effectively hindered by localized lattice distortions induced by incorporation of oversized A site cations. The steric engineering approach improves the operational lifetime of perovskite solar cells by more than nine‐fold from 222 h to 2011 h.
Electron‐injecting interlayers (ILs) which are stable in air, inject electrons efficiently, block holes, and block quenching of excitons, are very important to realize efficient inverted polymer ...light‐emitting diodes (IPLEDs). Two air‐stable polymer electron‐injecting interlayers (ILs), branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (PEIE) for use in IPLEDs are introduced, and the roles of the ILs in IPLEDs comparing these with a conventional Cs2CO3 IL are elucidated. These polymer ILs can reduce the electron injection barrier between ZnO and emitting layer by decreasing the work function (WF) of underlying ZnO, thereby effectively facilitating electron injection into the emitting layer. WF of ZnO covered by PEI is found to be lower than that covered by PEIE due to higher N+/C ratio of PEI. Furthermore, they can block the quenching of excitons and increase the luminous efficiency of devices. Thus, IPLEDs with PEI IL of optimum thickness (8 nm) show current efficiency (13.5 cd A–1), which is dramatically higher than that of IPLEDs with a Cs2CO3 IL (8 cd A‐1).
Efficient and air‐stable inverted polymer‐light emitting diodes (IPLEDs) can be realized by using insulating polymer electron‐injecting interlayers (ILs), branched polyethyleneimine (PEI), and polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (PEIE), giving highest current efficiencies of 13.5 cd A‐1 and 12 cd A‐1, respectively. Polymer ILs can facilitate electron injection into emitting layer as well as block the exciton quenching.
Highly efficient organic/inorganic hybrid perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) based on graphene anode are developed for the first time. Chemically inert graphene avoids quenching of excitons by ...diffused metal atom species from indium tin oxide. The flexible PeLEDs with graphene anode on plastic substrate show good bending stability; they provide an alternative and reliable flexible electrode for highly efficient flexible PeLEDs.
Making small nanograins in polycrystalline organic–inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP) films is critical to improving the luminescent efficiency in perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs). 3D ...polycrystalline OIHPs have fundamental limitations related to exciton binding energy and exciton diffusion length. At the same time, passivating the defects at the grain boundaries is also critical when the grain size becomes smaller. Molecular additives can be incorporated to shield the nanograins to suppress defects at grain boundaries; however, unevenly distributed molecular additives can cause imbalanced charge distribution and inefficient local defect passivation in polycrystalline OIHP films. Here, a kinetically controlled polycrystalline organic‐shielded nanograin (OSN) film with a uniformly distributed organic semiconducting additive (2,2′,2′′‐(1,3,5‐benzinetriyl)‐tris(1‐phenyl‐1‐H‐benzimidazole), TPBI) is developed mimicking core–shell nanoparticles. The OSN film causes improved photophysical and electroluminescent properties with improved light out‐coupling by possessing a low refractive index. Finally, highly improved electroluminescent efficiencies of 21.81% ph el−1 and 87.35 cd A−1 are achieved with a half‐sphere lens and four‐time increased half‐lifetime in polycrystalline PeLEDs. This strategy to make homogeneous, defect‐healed polycrystalline core–shell‐mimicked nanograin film with better optical out‐coupling will provide a simple and efficient way to make highly efficient perovskite polycrystal films and their optoelectronics devices.
A novel strategy of core‐shell‐mimicked polycrystalline nanograins for perovskite light‐emitting diodes is developed by kinetically controlling the crystallization kinetics with additive‐based nanocrystal pinning. Organic semiconducting additives homogeneously shield nanograins and heal grain boundary. Our strategy causes improved photophysical properties and light out‐coupling with low optical losses of waveguide and substrate modes. Finally, a high electroluminescent efficiency of 21.81% is achieved.
Ruthenium (Ru) is the most widely used metal as an electrocatalyst for nitrogen (N2) reduction reaction (NRR) because of the relatively high N2 adsorption strength for successive reaction. Recently, ...it has been well reported that the homogeneous Ru‐based metal alloys such as RuRh, RuPt, and RuCo significantly enhance the selectivity and formation rate of ammonia (NH3). However, the metal combinations for NRR have been limited to several miscible combinations of metals with Ru, although various immiscible combinations have immense potential to show high NRR performance. In this study, an immiscible combination of Ru and copper (Cu) is first utilized, and homogeneous alloy nanoparticles (RuCu NPs) are fabricated by the carbothermal shock method. The RuCu homogeneous NP alloys on cellulose/carbon nanotube sponge exhibit the highest selectivity and NH3 formation rate of ≈31% and −73 μmol h−1 cm−2, respectively. These are the highest values of the selectivity and NH3 formation rates among existing Ru‐based alloy metal combinations.
An atomic‐scale homogeneous alloy of immiscible metals is first implemented in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (NRR) by a unique carbothermal shock method. Atomic‐scale mixing of ruthenium and copper facilitates pivotal reaction steps in NRR, showing high selectivity and formation rate to ammonia. This paves the way for developing numerous potential homogeneous alloys of immiscible metal combinations for future efficient NRR electrocatalysts.
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