In this work, by casting water-soluble ammonium anthracene on metal oxides, the organic surface modifier re-engineered the interface of the metal oxide to improve charge transport. The energy level of ammonium anthracene increased the work function of indium tin oxide (ITO), functioning as a hole-blocker (electron-transporter). Solar cells in which ITO was treated by the ammonium anthracene produced an average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.8% without ZnO, the electron-transporting layer. When the ammonium anthracene was applied to ZnO, an average PCE of 8.1% was achieved, which is higher than the average PCE of 7.5% for nontreated ZnO-based devices.
Keywords: anthracene; electron-transporting layers; fullerene catcher; organic solar cells; polyaromatic amphiphiles; vertical separations.