The Polymer Society of Korea

Danh Nguyen (Pusan national university)

Danh Nguyen (Pusan national university)

As p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PSCs) gain popularity, bathocuproine (BCP) plays an essential role as a buffer layer between the electron transport layer and electrode, reducing Schottky contact and improving performance. Yet, the roles of its functional groups remain unclear. This study modifies BCP by adding phenyl and p-tolyl groups at the 2,9-positions to improve molecular planarity and protect reactive nitrogen sites in the phenanthroline core. These changes enhance charge transport and stability. Techniques like electrostatic force microscopy, impedance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence show that modified BCP improves charge extraction, reduces recombination, and boosts structural stability. As a result, device lifetimes increase significantly. This work highlights the potential of engineered BCP derivatives for efficient and stable PSCs.