17.1 %-Efficient Eco-Compatible Organic Solar Cells from a Dissymmetric 3D Network Acceptor

To elevate the performance of polymer solar cells (PSC) processed by non-halogenated solvents, a dissymmetric fused-ring acceptor BTIC-2Cl-gamma CF3 with chlorine and trifluoromethyl end groups has been designed and synthesized. X-ray crystallographic data suggests that BTIC-2Cl-gamma CF3 has a 3D network packing structure as a result of H- and J-aggregations between adjacent molecules, which will strengthen its charge transport as an acceptor material. When PBDB-TF was used as a donor, the toluene-processed binary device realized a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.31 %, which improved to 17.12 % when PC71ThBM was added as the third component. Its efficiency of over 17 % is currently the highest among polymer solar cells processed by non-halogenated solvents. Compared to its symmetric counterparts BTIC-4Cl and BTIC-CF3-gamma, the dissymmetric BTIC-2Cl-gamma CF3 integrates their merits, and has optimized the molecular aggregations with excellent storage and photo-stability, and also extending the maximum absorption peak in film to 852 nm. The devices exhibit good transparency indicating a potential utilization in semi-transparent building integrated photovoltaics (ST-BIPV).

Automated summary

The performance of polymer solar cells processed by non-halogenated solvents was enhanced by designing and synthesizing a dissymmetric fused-ring acceptor BTIC-2Cl-gamma CF3, achieving a PCE of over 17% and showing significant advantages in storage and photo-stability, while extending the absorption peak to 852 nm.