The inferior long-term stability of polymer-based solar cells needs to be overcome for their commercialization to be viable. In particular, an abrupt decrease in performance during initial device operation, the so-called 'burn-in' loss, has been a major contributor to the short lifetime of polymer solar cells, fundamentally impeding polymer-based photovoltaic technology. In this study, we demonstrate polymer solar cells with significantly improved lifetime, in which an initial burn-in loss is substantially reduced. By isolating trap-embedded components from pristine photoactive polymers based on the unimodality of molecular weight distributions, we are able to selectively extract a trap-free, high-molecular-weight component. The resulting polymer component exhibits enhanced power conversion efficiency and longterm stability without abrupt initial burn-in degradation. Our discovery suggests a promising possibility for commercial viability of polymer-based photovoltaics towards real solar cell applications.
Summary
Tin oxide (SnO2) nanorod (NR)‐fabricated composite capacitors have been developed by vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding process. The NRs were synthesized on carbon fiber by following hydrothermal synthesis method. Such SnO2 grown woven carbon fiber (WCF) capacitor that contains structural and energy storage functions saves system weight and volume; hence, it could offer benefits to electric vehicle, aerospace, and portable electric device industries. The SnO2‐WCF was considered as electrode and exhibited enhanced surface area relative to bare WCF. Energy storage performances of SnO2‐WCF capacitors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge‐discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, and improved specific capacitance (0.148 F/g), energy density (15.06 mWh/kg), and power density (1.16 W/kg) were achieved at 30 mM of SnO2 concentration. Hence, this study shows that the growth of SnO2 NRs on WCF surfaces offers accessible surface area for electric charge and presented potential application of SnO2‐WCF composites to energy storage industries.
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