Dataset of "Tuning the morphology and energy levels in organic solar cells with metal- organic framework nanosheets"

<p>Metal-organic framework nanosheets (MONs) have proved themselves to be useful<br>additives for enhancing the performance of a variety of thin film solar cell devices. However,<br>to date only isolated examples have been reported. In this work we take advantage of the<br>modular structure of MONs in order to resolve the effect of their different structural and<br>optoelectronic features on the performance of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Three<br>different MONs were synthesized using different combinations of two porphyrin-based ligands<br>meso-tetracarboxyphenyl porphyrin (TCPP) or tetrapyridyl-porphyrin (TPyP) with either zinc<br>and/or copper ions and the effect of their addition to polythiophene-fullerene (P3HT-PCBM)<br>OPV devices was investigated. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of devices was found to<br>approximately double with the addition of MONs of Zn2(ZnTCPP), but was unchanged with<br>the addition of Cu2(ZnTPyP) and halved upon the addition of Cu2(CuTCPP) compared to<br>devices without nanosheets. Our analysis indicates that there are three different mechanisms<br>by which MONs can influence the photoactive layer &ndash; light absorption, energy level alignment,<br>and morphological changes. Analysis of external quantum efficiency, UV-vis photoelectron<br>spectroscopy data found that MONs have similar effects on light absorption and energy level<br>alignment. However, atomic force and Raman microscopy studies revealed that the nanosheet<br>thickness and lateral size are crucial parameters in enabling the MONs to act as beneficial<br>additives resulting in an improvement of the OPV device performance. We anticipate this<br>study will aid in the design of MONs and other 2D materials for future use in other light<br>harvesting and emitting devices.</p>