Achieving Efficient Ternary Organic Solar Cells Using Structurally Similar Non-Fullerene Acceptors with Varying Flanking Side Chains

In this work, the properties and performance of three structurally similar non-fullerene acceptors (named BTP-Ph, BTP-Th, and BTP-C11) possessing different side chains on the beta-positions of the thienothiophene units of the Y6 molecule are systematically studied. The steric and electronic effects of these side chains on the blend morphology and device performance based on the PTQ10 donor polymer are investigated. It is found that the thiophene and benzene units on the side chains introduce more steric hindrance and thus slightly reduce the crystallinity of the molecule. However, an interesting matching trend with the PTQ10 donor that appears to better match with the less crystalline molecules is observed. Overall, PTQ10:BTP-Ph delivers the highest performance of 17.1% due to the suitable phase separation among three blends. Next, a ternary strategy is explored by incorporating BTP-Th/BTP-C11 with better molecular packing into PTQ10:BTP-Ph, which successfully extends photon response, enhances charge transport, and suppresses charge recombination compared with the binary blend. Due to these synergistic effects, the ternary device based on PTQ10:BTP-Ph:BTP-Th achieves an outstanding power conversion efficiency of 17.6% with a fill factor of 78.8%, which is the highest value of PTQ10-based devices to date.

Automated summary

This study systematically investigated the steric and electronic effects of three structurally similar non-fullerene acceptors on the blend morphology and device performance. By incorporating non-fullerene acceptors with better molecular packing into the PTQ10 donor polymer, a novel ternary strategy was explored, resulting in enhanced photon response, improved charge transport, and suppressed charge recombination, ultimately achieving an outstanding power conversion efficiency of 17.6% with a fill factor of 78.8% in the ternary device.