Recent Research Progress in Random Copolymerization of Polymer Photovoltaic Materials for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Along with the development of narrow-bandgap A-D-A and A-DA'D-A-type small-molecule acceptors (SMAs), polymer solar cells (PSCs) have witnessed a striking progress, with an impressing power conversion efficiency (PCE) approaching 20% recently. Aiming to realize the future commercial application of organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology, developing more efficient organic conjugated materials is urgently needed. Benefiting from the specific advantages in precisely adjusting the optoelectronic materials, random copolymerization strategy has drawn great attention during the past several years and has played a vital role in the development of PSCs. Herein, the functions of random copolymerization strategy in modulating the polymer properties are briefly discussed. Then the recent research progress of random copolymerization strategy of polymer photovoltaic materials in PSCs is reviewed. Finally, perspectives and a concise outlook on the further advancement of the random copolymerization strategy are put forward.

Automated summary

With the development of narrow-bandgap A-D-A and A-DA'D-A-type small-molecule acceptors (SMAs), polymer solar cells (PSCs) have achieved significant progress, reaching an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 20%. To realize the future commercial application of organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology, the development of more efficient organic conjugated materials is urgently needed. The random copolymerization strategy has received great attention and played a vital role in the development of PSCs due to its advantages in precisely adjusting the optoelectronic materials. This review briefly discusses the functions of the random copolymerization strategy in modulating the polymer properties and presents the recent research progress of this strategy in PSCs. Furthermore, it provides perspectives and a concise outlook on the further advancement of the random copolymerization strategy.