Control of the electrode work function and active layer morphology via surface modification of indium tin oxide for high efficiency organic photovoltaics

Indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were used to control the anode work function and active layer morphology of organic solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene)/6:6-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester heterojunctions. By using SAMs with the terminal groups –NH2, –CH3, and –CF3, the authors were able to control the hole injection barrier of the ITO closer to the highest occupied molecular orbital level of active layer and surface energy of the ITO substrate. A solar cell device with CF3 SAM treated ITO was found to exhibit high efficiency performance, about 3.15%.