Investigation on the mechanism of charge generation in organic heterojunctions: Analysis of I–V and C–V characteristics

The charge generation mechanism of organic heterojunction (OHJ) consisted of 1,4,5,8,9,11-hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN) and different hole transporting materials (HTMs) are studied systematically by current-voltage (I–V) and capacitance-voltage measurements. The analysis of I–V characteristics of the devices based on OHJs at forward and reverse voltages by comparing the thickness of HTM layers finds that a forward and reverse symmetrical I–V curve is observed at thin HTM layers and the forward current becomes larger than the reverse current with the increase of HTM thickness, fully illustrating the effectiveness of OHJ charge generation. Moreover, the I–V characteristics at different temperatures indicate that the efficient charge generation is originated from electron tunneling rather than diffusion. And the C–V and capacitance-frequency (C–F)characteristics further illustrate the highly efficient charge generation ability of OHJs so that the charge density is as high as 4.5 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³, guaranteeing the high conductivity of OHJs, which is very beneficial to developing highly efficient OLEDs using OHJs as charge injector and generator.     

Ferroelectric phase transition and electrical conduction mechanisms in high Curie-temperature PMN-PHT piezoelectric ceramics

Ferroelectric phase transition characteristic and electrical conduction mechanism of the high Curie-point (T_C) 0.15Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃−0.4PbHfO₃−0.45PbTiO₃ (PMN-PHT) piezoelectric ceramics were studied by the temperature dependent Raman spectra and electrical properties. Sole first-order ferroelectric phase transition is demonstrated by the thermal hysteresis behavior of the temperature dependent dielectric constant and the dramatic drop of the derivative of inverse dielectric constant ξ= d(1/ε_r)/dT around T_C in the PMN-PHT ceramics. The temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy not only provides further evidence for the ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition appearing around T_C in the PMN-PHT ceramics, but also reveals the successive phase symmetry changes of the polar nanoregions (PNRs), in which apparent anomalies appear in the Raman peaks' wavenumber, wavenumber distance, intensity, intensity ratio, and line width of some selected Raman modes upon heating. Typical sole cole-cole circle is obtained for the PMN-PHT ceramics in the temperature range of 440–560 °C, based on which the activation energy (E_a) of the electrical conduction is calculated being ~1.2 eV. Such low value of E_a indicates that the oxygen vacancies formed in the PHT-PMN ceramics induced by the evaporation of Pb during the sintering process dominate the high-temperature extrinsic electrical conduction.     

Realizing improved performance of down-conversion white organic light-emitting diodes by localized surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles

Down-conversion structure white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs), in which white light is generated by a blue emission organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in combination with a color conversion layer (CCL) outside the substrate, has attracted extensive interest due to its significant advantages in low cost and stabilized white-light emissions. However, low color-conversion efficiency of CCL is still a bottleneck for the performance improvement of down-conversion WOLEDs. Here, we demonstrate an approach to enhance the color-conversion efficiency of CCL-WOLEDs by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. In this approach, a blend of Ag nanoparticles and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is solution-deposited between the blue organic light emitting diodes and color-conversion layer. Based on the LSPR effect of this modified structure, the color conversion efficiency has improved 32%, from 45.4% to 60%, resulting a 14.4% enhancement of the current efficiency, from 9.73 cd/A to 11.14 cd/A. Our work provides a simple and low-cost way to enhance the performance of down-conversion WOLEDs, which highlights its potential in illumination applications.     

Non-fullerene organic solar cells with 7% efficiency and excellent air stability through morphological and interfacial engineering

We report on the fabrication of the poly{[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl]} (PTB7) and poly{[N,N-9-bis(2-octyldodecyl)- naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,59-(2,29-bithiophene)}(P(NDI2OD-T2)) active layer combination employing air brush spray coating technique in 2-methyl anisole. Optical absorption characteristics of the blend layer were examined utilizing UV–visible spectra in the wavelength sweep varying from 300 to 900 nm. Atomic force microscopy was utilized to analyze the surface characteristics of the fabricated active layer. Under the radiance of simulated solar light with 100 mW cm⁻² (AM 1.5G), the current density voltage (J-V) characteristics were determined by employing a solar simulator. Fullerene-free organic solar cells were build using a combination of P(NDI2OD-T2) acceptor and a polymer donor PTB7 with SnO₂ acting as an interlayer, which showed power conversion efficiency (PCEs) of more than 7.0%, which is considered as the best PCEs been reported for the chosen donor and the acceptor. The device is extremely stable, holding 75% of its unique effectiveness subsequent to being put away in air for 72 days even without encapsulation. These outcomes demonstrate that the spray-coated film is a feasible contrasting option to the vacuum-deposited ITO film in terms of cost for mass production and for roll-to-roll based organic solar cells.     

Achieving high energy storage performance of Pb(Lu1/2Nb1/2)O3 antiferroelectric ceramics via equivalent A-site engineering

Manipulating the critical switching field between antiferroelectric (AFE) state and ferroelectric (FE) is an important concept for tuning the energy storage performance of AFEs. As one of the lead-based AFE systems, Pb(Lu_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ promises high potential in the miniaturization of pulsed power capacitors, but the extremely high critical switching field and low induced saturated polarization demonstrate severe drawbacks with respect to temperature stability and flexibility. Here, A-site Ba²⁺ doping engineering is used to effectively reduce the critical switching field and improve the saturated polarization in Ba_xPb_1-x(Lu_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.08, abbreviated as xBa-PLN) ceramics. We found the AFE-FE phase transition can be occurred at 80ºC with a high energy storage density of 4.03 J/cm³ for Ba_0.06Pb_0.94(Lu_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ ceramic. Our results show that Ba²⁺ additions destroy the antiparallel structure of AFE phase, and finally reduce the critical switching field, demonstrating a potential alternative to modulate the energy storage performance of AFEs.     

Additive manufacturing and direct synthesis of sphene ceramic scaffolds from a silicone resin and reactive fillers

Sphene (CaTiSiO₅, i.e. CaO·TiO₂·SiO₂) ceramics were successfully developed via the polymer derived ceramics route, starting from a commercial silicone containing specific oxide fillers. The approach allowed the combination of synthesis, in conditions of high phase purity, and advanced manufacturing. In particular, the adopted starting materials enabled an easy preparation of pastes, to be used for direct ink writing (DIW) of three-dimensional reticulated scaffolds. Sphene scaffolds, after firing at 1300 °C, were always regular and crack-free, despite changes in the line spacing, resulting in variable porosity (from ≈ 59 to 74 %), and exhibited a compressive strength from 3.9 to 12.7 MPa. The porosity was actually hierarchical, considering the formation of ‘spongy’ struts. In vitro tests, with increasing immersion time in SBF solution, confirmed the bioactivity, combined with a quite slow ion release, useful to maintain the pH value at nearly physiological values. Additional biological tests, consisting of the seeding of scaffold with normal human adult dermal fibroblasts, showed adequate cell viability and no toxicity effect.     

Relaxor antiferroelectric-like characteristic boosting enhanced energy storage performance in eco-friendly (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-based ceramics

Ideal relaxor antiferroelectrics (RAFEs) have high field-induced polarization, low remnant polarization and very slim hysteresis, which can generate high recoverable energy storage W_rec and high energy storage efficiency η, thus attracting much attention for energy storage applications. True RAFEs, on the other hand, are extremely rare, and the majority of them contain environmentally hazardous lead. In this work, we use a viscous polymer rolling process to synthesize a novel and eco-friendly 0.65Bi_0.5Na_0.4K_0.1TiO₃-0.35[2/3SrTiO₃-1/3Bi(Mg_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃] (BNKT-ST-BMN) dielectric material, which possesses a very typical RAFE-like characteristic. As a result, this material has a high W_rec of 4.43 J/cm³ and a η of 86% at an electric felid of 290 kV/cm, as well as a high thermal stability of W_rec (>3 J/cm³) over a wide range of 30–140 °C at 250 kV/cm. Our findings suggest that the BNKT-ST-BMN material could be a potential candidate for use in energy storage pulse capacitors.     

Electrical properties of zinc oxide – Tetracene heterostructures with different n-type ZnO films

Electrical properties of organic-inorganic p–n heterojunction structures with tetracene (Tc) and zinc oxide (ZnO) films were investigated. The ZnO films had different n-type carrier concentrations that varied from ∼10¹⁵ cm⁻³ to 10¹⁹ cm⁻³. Lower n-type ZnO layers resulted in decreased reverse currents in the ZnO:Al/ZnO/Tc/Au structures and in an improvement of their asymmetric properties. Experimentally determined energy level alignments at the ZnO/Tc interfaces were related to the electrical behavior of the structures. An improved rectification was associated with decreased generation-recombination currents at the ZnO/Tc interface due to an increased organic-inorganic interface energy gap. Current-voltage characteristics were analyzed by a differential approach. Electrical conduction mechanisms including bimolecular recombination as well as trap-filled limited conduction were identified in the investigated structures.     

Microstraining in titania-, alumina- and silica-supported V2O5-catalysts

Commonly used catalysts in industry are compositions of highly dispersed particles. Typical systems consist of precious metals or transition metal oxides like V₂O₅ on oxide supports, especially TiO₂, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂. Support and active compound show a different chemical and material behaviour. A very important influence of the support on the active compound is the formation of microstrains due to the different thermal expansion behaviour. On the surface of a stiff linear elastic support the active compound is certainly strain hindered. In order to monitor the development of strain hindrance and further effects, in situ experiments were carried out at temperature both in an X-ray and in a neutron powder diffractometer. The width of the reflexes indicated a strong influence of the thermal expansion mismatch on peak width. The strain hindrance creates mismatch stresses high enough to overcome the yield stress of V₂O₅. The Williamson–Hall plots showed both a particle size effect as well as a stress widening but the measurements were difficult because of the materials anisotropy. The TEM work showed again very fine particles which agrees with the X-ray measurements. The support effect may be seen as thermal stress induced formation of a mosaic structure in the active compound. Moreover, the peak width correlated with the catalytic activity. The low ordered regimes in the mosaic structure are acting as further active centres for the catalytic reaction.     

Effects of 90° domain switching on electric generation properties of PZT ceramic

The influence of domain switching on the electric generation properties of lead zirconate tinatate (PZT) ceramic has been investigated after static and cyclic loadings under various conditions. A PZT ceramic of size ϕ8.0 mm×0.17 mm, consisting of a tetragonal lattice structure, i.e., c/a≠1.014, was used. Domain switching occurred as a result of the applied stress, where three different switching modes were employed: (I) simple 90° switching; (II) 90° switching with 90° rotation; and (III) 90° switching with 180° rotation. The rates of the switching mode were different: the simple switching mode (Mode I) was 20%; and both complicated switching modes (Mode II and III) were 40%. The extent of 90° domain switching was different depending on the grain and where the direction of the tetragonal structure (c-axis direction) was affected, e.g., the closer the parallel between the c-axis and the stress direction, the stronger the domain switching. The electric generation voltage increased with increasing applied cyclic stress; however, that voltage dropped suddenly as the stress value was close to its elastic limit. This is due to the 90° domain switching. Such domain switching (reduction of the electric voltage) occurred in the early cyclic stage.