A Universal Nonhalogenated Polymer Donor for High-Performance Organic Photovoltaic Cells

Nonhalogenated polymers have great potential in the commercialization of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells due to their advantage in low-cost preparation. However, non-halogenated polymers usually have high highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels and inferior self-aggregation properties in solution, thus resulting in low power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Herein, two nonhalogenated polymers, PB1 and PB2, are prepared. When the polymers are used to fabricate OPV cells with BTP-eC9, the PB1-based device only gives a PCE of 5.3%, while the PB2-based device shows an outstanding PCE of 17.7%. After the introduction of PBDB-TF as the third component, the PB2:PBDB-TF:BTP-eC9-based device with an optimal weight ratio of 0.5:0.5:1 achieves a PCE up to 18.4%. More importantly, PB2 exhibits good compatibility with various nonfullerene acceptors to achieve better PCEs than those of classical polymer (PBDB-T and PBDB-TF)-based devices. When PB2 is combined with a wide-bandgap electron acceptor (F-BTA3), this device shows excellent PCE of 27.1% and 24.6% for 1 and 10 cm(2) devices, respectively, under light intensity of 1000 lux light-emitting diode illumination. These results provide new insight in the rational design of novel nonhalogenated polymer donors for further development of low-cost materials and broadening the application of OPV cells.

Automated summary

Two nonhalogenated polymers, PB1 and PB2, were prepared and tested in organic photovoltaic cells. PB2 showed superior power conversion efficiency when combined with BTP-eC9 and PBDB-TF, as well as good compatibility with various nonfullerene acceptors. When combined with a wide-bandgap electron acceptor (F-BTA3), PB2 achieved excellent PCE, demonstrating its potential for developing low-cost materials and expanding the application of OPV cells.