4.2 Review

Recent progress in low-cost noncovalently fused-ring electron acceptors for organic solar cells

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High-Performance Simple Nonfused Ring Electron Acceptors with Diphenylamino Flanking Groups

Xiaodong Wang et al.

Summary: Four simple nonfused ring electron acceptors were designed and synthesized, with CH3-2F showing the highest power conversion efficiency. The substituent group at the diphenylamine unit has a significant impact on the absorption and energy level of acceptors, electron mobility, and morphology of blend films. The use of diphenylamine derivatives as the flanking group can improve solubility, avoid oversized aggregates, and enhance intramolecular charge-transfer effects.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2021)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Highly Efficient Non-Fused-Ring Electron Acceptors Enabled by the Conformational Lock and Structural Isomerization Effects

Jun Zhao et al.

Summary: Two novel nonfused-ring electron acceptors (N-FREAs), DTP-out-F and DTP-in-F, containing a 2,5-difluorophenylene core with DTP blocks and IC-2F terminals, were designed and synthesized. The isomerization of DTP to 2,5-difluorophenylene affected the overall properties of the N-FREAs, leading to improved power conversion efficiency. The isomerization strategy shows great potential in developing high-performance N-FREAs.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2021)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Facile Modification of a Noncovalently Fused-Ring Electron Acceptor Enables Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Jinfeng Huang et al.

Summary: The study introduces two new quinoxaline-based NCAs, QOC6-4H and QOC6-4Cl, with the latter showing improved optical absorption, carrier mobilities, and charge recombination suppression. The device based on PBDB-T:QOC6-4Cl achieved a notable power conversion efficiency and higher short-current density, demonstrating that chlorination of end groups is an effective strategy to enhance intermolecular interactions and photovoltaic performance of NCAs.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2021)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Regioregular Narrow-Bandgap n-Type Polymers with High Electron Mobility Enabling Highly Efficient All-Polymer Solar Cells

Huiliang Sun et al.

Summary: The study successfully improved the efficiency of all-polymer solar cells by synthesizing narrow-bandgap polymer acceptors with regular structures. By introducing a ternary system with different components, further optimization of blend morphology and charge transport was achieved, leading to an enhanced power conversion efficiency.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2021)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Single-Junction Organic Photovoltaic Cell with 19% Efficiency

Yong Cui et al.

Summary: By combining material design and ternary blending strategy, a maximum power conversion efficiency of 19.0% is achieved in single-junction OPV cells. Optimized active layer structure significantly improves the photovoltaic parameters, enhancing the performance and PCE values of the cells.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2021)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Side-Chain Engineering for Enhancing the Molecular Rigidity and Photovoltaic Performance of Noncovalently Fused-Ring Electron Acceptors

Xin Zhang et al.

Summary: Side-chain engineering is an effective strategy for regulating solubility and packing behavior of organic materials. The introduction of terminal side-chains in a new noncovalently fused-ring electron acceptor has shown to enhance molecular rigidity and intermolecular pi-pi stacking, resulting in record power conversion efficiency for organic solar cells.

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION (2021)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Regulating the Aggregation of Unfused Non-Fullerene Acceptors via Molecular Engineering towards Efficient Polymer Solar Cells

Yuxiang Li et al.

Summary: This study successfully optimized the film structure of polymer solar cells by systematically adjusting the molecular aggregation patterns of unfused non-fullerene acceptors (UF-NFAs), leading to improved efficiency of the photovoltaic devices.

CHEMSUSCHEM (2021)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Completely non-fused electron acceptor with 3D-interpenetrated crystalline structure enables efficient and stable organic solar cell

Lijiao Ma et al.

Summary: Non-fullerene acceptors based on non-fused conjugated structures have potential for low-cost organic photovoltaic cells, but their efficiencies are lower than those of fused-ring NFAs. A new bithiophene-based non-fused core, TT-Pi, was designed, leading to the development of a completely non-fused NFA, A4T-16, which achieved a high PCE of 15.2% with 84% retention after 1300 hours under simulated AM 1.5 G illumination. This work provides insight into molecule design of non-fused NFAs through molecular geometry control.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

Article Energy & Fuels

A unified description of non-radiative voltage losses in organic solar cells

Xian-Kai Chen et al.

Summary: Researchers provide a general description of non-radiative voltage losses and find that the latest organic solar cells based on non-fullerene acceptors can reduce this loss. The study shows that photoluminescence yield is a critical factor in determining the lower limit of non-radiative voltage losses.

NATURE ENERGY (2021)

Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

The renaissance of polythiophene organic solar cells

Long Ye et al.

Summary: In the past decade, there have been significant advancements in the power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells, with polythiophenes showing great promise. Optimizing the structure and performance of polythiophenes in solar cells can drive progress in cost-effective electronics.

TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY (2021)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Enhancing photovoltaic performance via aggregation dynamics control in fused-ring electron acceptor

Jiayu Wang et al.

Summary: A new fused-ring electron acceptor FNIC3 with controlled aggregation behavior was synthesized, showing strong absorption in the 600-900 nm range. The aggregation of FNIC3 significantly influences the photovoltaic device parameters, with appropriate aggregation enhancing the power conversion efficiency. Aggregates formed under proper film formation time exhibit a higher PCE compared to those formed under short or long film formation time.

AGGREGATE (2021)

Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Morphology optimization of photoactive layers in organic solar cells

Chaohua Cui et al.

Summary: Organic solar cells have unique advantages of light weight and low cost, with the morphology of the active layer being crucial for performance. Postdeposition treatments and additive treatments are effective in optimizing the morphology, leading to improved performance in organic photovoltaic applications.

AGGREGATE (2021)

Review Energy & Fuels

Non-fused ring acceptors for organic solar cells

Mingqun Yang et al.

Summary: Organic solar cells (OSCs) have seen rapid advancements in power conversion efficiencies with the emergence of non-fused ring acceptors (NFRAs) as potential replacements for the complex and costly multiple fused ring acceptors (NFAs). Challenges and future directions are discussed to achieve high performance and low synthetic complexity simultaneously in the development of new NFRAs for practical application in OSCs.

ENERGY MATERIALS (2021)

Article Chemistry, Physical

Electron-deficient diketone unit engineering for non-fused ring acceptors enabling over 13% efficiency in organic solar cells

Dou Luo et al.

Summary: This study demonstrates the use of electron-deficient diketone units in efficient non-fused ring electron acceptors for high-performance organic solar cells. By choosing appropriate building blocks, stronger molecular stacking can be achieved leading to improved device performance.

JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A (2021)

Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Progress and prospects of the morphology of non-fullerene acceptor based high-efficiency organic solar cells

Lei Zhu et al.

Summary: The article reviews the importance of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) in organic solar cells (OSCs) and the key steps and influencing factors for morphology optimization. It examines the morphological characteristics and recent research progress of pi-conjugated molecular systems based on IDT and Y6, as well as n-type pi-conjugated polymers, with special attention to high-performance Y6-based NFAs. The article aims to provide useful information and guidance for morphology optimization and achieving higher efficiency devices.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (2021)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

An unfused-ring acceptor with high side-chain economy enabling 11.17% as-cast organic solar cells

Fuqiang Du et al.

Summary: The article discusses the importance of side-chain engineering on nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) for optimizing their solubility and crystallinity in order to achieve high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs). The use of 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DCB) as an electron-donating core in designing unfused-ring acceptors (UFAs) with low weight ratios of side chains is highlighted. The resulting DCB-4F material exhibits higher solubility and promising efficiency in OSCs when compared to traditional analogues, showing potential for achieving highly efficient as-cast OSCs.

MATERIALS HORIZONS (2021)

Article Chemistry, Physical

A ligand-free direct heteroarylation approach for benzodithiophenedione-based simple small molecular acceptors toward high efficiency polymer solar cells

Zhuhao Wu et al.

Summary: The development of nonfullerene acceptors has greatly improved the power conversion efficiencies of polymer solar cells in the past years, with a focus on synthetic accessibility without organostannanes for commercial applications. This study successfully synthesized two high-efficiency simple small molecular nonfullerene acceptors through a ligand-free direct heteroarylation approach, demonstrating their similar optical properties and energy levels. The nonfullerene acceptor BDDEH-4F with 2-ethylhexyl side chains achieved a higher PCE and larger Jsc compared to BDDBO-4F, showcasing the promise of facile direct heteroarylation for cost-effective nonfullerene solar cells.

JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A (2021)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Nonfused Nonfullerene Acceptors with an A-D-A′-D-A Framework and a Benzothiadiazole Core for High-Performance Organic Solar Cells

Shuting Pang et al.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2020)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Near-Infrared Electron Acceptors with Unfused Architecture for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Chengliang He et al.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2020)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Noncovalently Fused-Ring Electron Acceptors with C-2v Symmetry for Regulating the Morphology of Organic Solar Cells

Ran Hou et al.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2020)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

A Fully Non-fused Ring Acceptor with Planar Backbone and Near-IR Absorption for High Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Ya-Nan Chen et al.

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION (2020)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Reducing energy lossviatuning energy levels of polymer acceptors for efficient all-polymer solar cells

Huiliang Sun et al.

SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY (2020)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Butterfly Effects Arising from Starting Materials in Fused-Ring Electron Acceptors

Tengfei Li et al.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (2020)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Highly Efficient Fullerene-Free Organic Solar Cells Operate at Near Zero Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital Offsets

Shuixing Li et al.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (2019)

Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Solution-Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Viktor V. Brus et al.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2019)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole Cored p-Type Semiconductors Enabling 20 % Efficiency Dopant-Free Perovskite Solar Cells

Jie Zhou et al.

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION (2019)

Article Polymer Science

Non-fullerene Acceptors with a Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) Core for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Shi-Zhe Geng et al.

CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (2019)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Simple non-fused electron acceptors for efficient and stable organic solar cells

Zhi-Peng Yu et al.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2019)

Article Chemistry, Physical

Small Molecule Acceptors with a Nonfused Architecture for High-Performance Organic Photovoltaics

Yuan-Qiu-Qiang Yi et al.

CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS (2019)

Article Chemistry, Physical

A Simple Electron Acceptor with Unfused Backbone for Polymer Solar Cells

Zhang Zhongqiang et al.

ACTA PHYSICO-CHIMICA SINICA (2019)

Review Chemistry, Physical

Organic solar cells based on non-fullerene acceptors

Jianhui Hou et al.

NATURE MATERIALS (2018)

Review Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Non-fullerene acceptors for organic solar cells

Cenqi Yan et al.

NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS (2018)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Design of Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-Based Small Molecules for Organic-Solar-Cell Applications

Ailing Tang et al.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2017)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Fused Nonacyclic Electron Acceptors for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells

Shuixing Dai et al.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (2017)

Review Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Low-bandgap conjugated polymers enabling solution-processable tandem solar cells

Gang Li et al.

NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS (2017)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Constructing a Strongly Absorbing Low-Bandgap Polymer Acceptor for High-Performance All-Polymer Solar Cells

Zhi-Guo Zhang et al.

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION (2017)

Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Triarylamine: Versatile Platform for Organic, Dye-Sensitized, and Perovskite Solar Cells

Jiayu Wang et al.

CHEMICAL REVIEWS (2016)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

High-Performance Electron Acceptor with Thienyl Side Chains for Organic Photovoltaics

Yuze Lin et al.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (2016)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

A Facile Planar Fused-Ring Electron Acceptor for As-Cast Polymer Solar Cells with 8.71% Efficiency

Yuze Lin et al.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (2016)

Review Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Beyond efficiency: scalability of molecular donor materials for organic photovoltaics

Riccardo Po et al.

JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C (2016)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

A Large-Bandgap Conjugated Polymer for Versatile Photovoltaic Applications with High Performance

Maojie Zhang et al.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2015)

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

An Electron Acceptor Challenging Fullerenes for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells

Yuze Lin et al.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2015)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Flexible, highly efficient all-polymer solar cells

Taesu Kim et al.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2015)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Aggregation and morphology control enables multiple cases of high-efficiency polymer solar cells

Yuhang Liu et al.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2014)