Article
Energy & Fuels
Maria Privado, Anupam Agrawal, Pilar de la Cruz, Mukhamed L. Keshtov, Ganesh D. Sharma, Fernando Langa
Summary: The synthesis of highly planar extended pi-electron molecules with noncovalent intramolecular interactions is crucial for the development of efficient nonfullerene acceptors in organic solar cells. The two small-molecule acceptors designed and synthesized in this study show broad absorption in the visible and near-infrared region, with devices containing selenophene demonstrating better film morphology, electron mobility, and higher efficiency compared to those containing thiophene.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ailing Tang, Peiqing Cong, Tingting Dai, Zongtao Wang, Erjun Zhou
Summary: The A(2)-A(1)-D-A(1)-A(2)-type nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have higher molecular energy levels and wider optical bandgaps compared to other NFAs, making them suitable for high-voltage organic photovoltaics (OPVs), ternary OPVs, and indoor OPVs. This review summarizes the recent progress in the molecular engineering, structure-property relationships, voltage loss, device stability, and photovoltaic performance of binary, ternary, and indoor OPVs based on A(2)-A(1)-D-A(1)-A(2)-type NFAs. The challenges and future prospects for the further development of this type of NFAs are also discussed.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingyun Kang, Syed Zahid Hassan, Seong-Min Ko, Changwon Choi, Juhee Kim, Santosh K. R. Parumala, Yun-Hi Kim, Yun Hee Jang, Jinhwan Yoon, Dong-Woo Jee, Doe Sung Chung
Summary: This study proposes a method to overcome early photocurrent saturation in organic photodiodes (OPDs) by introducing a light-intensity-dependent transition of the operation mode. By doping the photoactive layer with a molecular switch, the proposed OPD exhibits high external quantum efficiency under low-intensity and high-intensity light illuminations, extending the photoresponse linearity to a higher light intensity.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Dan Zhou, Jianru Wang, Zhentian Xu, Haitao Xu, Jianwei Quan, Jiawei Deng, Yubing Li, Yongfen Tong, Bin Hu, Lie Chen
Summary: Organic solar cells (OSCs) have made significant progress in recent years due to their low cost, lightweight, mechanical flexibility, and printable fabrication. The nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) play an important role in widening the absorption range, enhancing stability, and increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of OSCs. As a result, NFAs have attracted increasing attention for their inherent advantages. Currently, the PCE of OSCs has been elevated to over 20%. Small molecule and polymer NFAs are crucial in OSCs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Gao, Francis R. Lin, Alex K-Y Jen
Summary: This article focuses on the development of near-infrared nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) in organic solar cells (OSCs), discussing their molecular design strategies, structure-property-performance relationships, and the potential in fabricating ternary and tandem OSCs. Outlooks for future design of NIR NFAs are also provided, considering material stability and production cost based on current knowledge, in hope of aiding the further development of the field.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Joel Troughton, Sebastian Neubert, Nicola Gasparini, Diego Rosas Villalva, Jules Bertrandie, Akmaral Seitkhan, Sri Harish Kumar Paleti, Anirudh Sharma, Michele De Bastiani, Erkan Aydin, Thomas D. Anthopoulos, Stefaan De Wolf, Rutger Schlatmann, Derya Baran
Summary: Monolithically stacked tandem solar cells offer the opportunity to absorb more solar radiation with reduced energy loss, with carefully adjusted bandgaps to avoid competition for photons. Two-terminal tandem solar cells using wide bandgap amorphous silicon and narrow bandgap NFA bulk-heterojunction show high power conversion efficiencies exceeding 15%, with interface engineering allowing for stability across a wide range of light intensities. The addition of an inorganic silicon subcell enhances operational stability and reduces light-stress on the bulk heterojunction, addressing a longstanding challenge in organic photovoltaic research.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinfeng Ge, Lin Xie, Ruixiang Peng, Ziyi Ge
Summary: The emergence of Y-series nonfullerene acceptors has significantly improved the power conversion efficiency of all-small-molecule organic solar cells from 12% to 17%. This improvement is attributed to the exceptional properties of the Y-series acceptors and the successful development of small-molecule donors. The optimization of short-circuit current density, fill factor, and nonradiative recombination has led to unprecedented values, distinguishing these ASM-OSCs from ITIC-series based ones.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huifeng Yao, Jingwen Wang, Ye Xu, Jianhui Hou
Summary: Materials design greatly impacts the efficiency of organic solar cells. Nonfullerene acceptors have significantly increased the power conversion efficiency of these cells, with current state-of-the-art cells reaching PCEs of over 19%. The molecular structure of these nonfullerene acceptors, particularly the electron push-pull effect and the design of terminal groups, plays a critical role in achieving high efficiency.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Daize Mo, Hui Chen, Yulin Zhu, Hsin-Hsiang Huang, Pengjie Chao, Feng He
Summary: The halogenation of NFAs end groups can effectively lower the energy levels and improve the performance of NFAs-based OSCs. Brominated NFAs show better charge transfer ability and photovoltaic performance, making them a promising option for constructing high-performance organic solar cells.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Do Hui Kim, Huijeong Choi, Peddaboodi Gopikrishna, Dongchan Lee, BongSoo Kim, Shinuk Cho
Summary: Breaking the symmetry of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) can improve the processability and performance of organic solar cells (OSCs), solving the dependence on processing solvents and being significant for future mass production.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yongwen Lang, Hui Chen, Hanjian Lai, Yi Lu, Yulin Zhu, Peiyuan Yu, Feng He
Summary: The importance of noncovalent conformational locks in molecular design and organic photovoltaic materials is studied. By comparing the properties of two structural isomers, it is found that molecules with highly planar conformations have higher power conversion efficiency.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jinqiu Xu, Francis Lin, Lei Zhu, Ming Zhang, Tianyu Hao, Guanqing Zhou, Ke Gao, Yecheng Zou, Gang Wei, Yuanping Yi, Alex K. Y. Jen, Yongming Zhang, Feng Liu
Summary: This research investigates the structure features and intermolecular interactions of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) in single crystal and thin films, as well as their solar cell applications. Key parameters and intermolecular forces that lead to different crystalline packing motifs are identified. Atomic modification induces hydrogen bonding or pi-pi stacking column, resulting in different crystalline packing. Molecular assembly in thin films is initiated by hydrogen bonding and completed by pi-pi stacking reorganization. The crystalline packing motif is not directly related to device efficiency, but the crystalline morphology influences exciton/carrier dynamics and device performance. A broader understanding of the scaling behavior of organic semiconductor crystals ranging from oligoacenes to NFAs is established.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yanan Shi, Junxiu Pan, Jianwei Yu, Jianqi Zhang, Feng Gao, Kun Lu, Zhixiang Wei
Summary: This study investigates the impact of molecular structures and aggregation morphologies on the photovoltaic properties of organic solar cells based on nonfullerene acceptors. By designing and synthesizing various NFAs with different alkyl substituents and end groups, the research demonstrates that optimizing the molecular structures of NFAs can lead to improved energy levels and reduced energy losses in OSCs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yafei Ding, Shilong Xiong, Mingpeng Li, Mingrui Pu, Yiwu Zhu, Xue Lai, Yunpeng Wang, Dongsheng Qiu, Hanjian Lai, Feng He
Summary: The conjugate expansion of nonfullerene acceptors can improve the efficiency of organic solar cells by tuning the morphology and molecular stacking. In this study, two nonfullerene acceptors, YB2B and YB2T, were designed and synthesized using a 2D pi-conjugate expansion strategy. YB2T showed red-shifted absorption spectra, better charge transport properties, and more orderly molecular stacking, leading to higher exciton dissociation efficiency and lower charge recombination. As a result, YB2T-based binary OSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency of 17.05%, outperforming YB2B-based devices with only 10.94% efficiency. This research highlights the importance of the aromatic-ring substitution strategy in regulating the electronic structure and aggregation behavior of 2D nonfullerene acceptors, enabling the development of devices with superior photovoltaic performance.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Hao-Wen Cheng, Yepin Zhao, Yang Yang
Summary: Solar energy is gaining attention as an alternative solution to global energy demands, with semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs) receiving focus for their transparency and power conversion efficiency. Recent developments in ST-OPVs center around narrow-bandgap donors and non-fullerene acceptors, utilizing various strategies to improve performance and providing insightful guidelines for future advancements.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roua Hassoun, Constanze Erdmann, Sebastian Schmitt, Setsuko Fujita-Becker, Andreas Muegge, Rasmus R. Schroeder, Matthias Geyer, Mina Borbor, Kornelia Jaquet, Nazha Hamdani, Hans Georg Mannherz
Summary: Expression of cardiac alpha-actin and its mutants using the insect cell system revealed differences in filament length and morphology, as well as varying Ca2+-sensitivity of myosin-S1 ATPase stimulation. The addition of cardiac tropomyosin and troponin affected the enzyme activity differently in wild type and mutant actins. Overall, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy-related mutants showed distinct responses to Ca2+-sensitivity compared to the wild type.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Peter R. Schol, Wen-Shan Zhang, Tobias Scharl, Andreas Kunzmann, Wolfgang Peukert, Rasmus R. Schroeder, Dirk M. Guldi
Summary: A common goal in renewable energy research is to add matching additives to semiconductor layers in order to achieve desired effects and advantages. In this study, a twofold approach was demonstrated: adjusting the band gap of the semiconductor layer by incorporating indium into zinc oxide, and improving charge transport capabilities by adding single-walled carbon nanotubes. The results showed that both additives had positive effects on the cell performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Md Mofasser Mallick, Avishek Sarbajna, Andres Georg Roesch, Leonard Franke, Holger Gesswein, Yolita M. Eggeler, Uli Lemmer
Summary: This study presents a facile method to prepare a flexible thermoelectric film with enhanced performance. The film exhibits exceptional flexibility with minimal change in resistance after multiple bending cycles. By substituting a specific element, the power factor and thermal conductivity of the film are improved, resulting in higher figure-of-merit values at both room temperature and elevated temperatures. The fabricated film is demonstrated to generate power and voltage in a thermoelectric generator.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Md Mofasser Mallick, Leonard Franke, Andres Georg Roesch, Holger Gesswein, Yolita M. Eggeler, Uli Lemmer
Summary: By studying the synthesis of copper-selenium-based printable ink and photonic-curing technology, high electrical conductivity in printed thermoelectric films was achieved while minimizing interfacial resistance. The fast processing and high conductivity of the film also show potential for various printed electronics applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher Woepke, Clemens Goehler, Maria Saladina, Xiaoyan Du, Li Nian, Christopher Greve, Chenhui Zhu, Kaila M. Yallum, Yvonne J. Hofstetter, David Becker-Koch, Ning Li, Thomas Heumueller, Ilya Milekhin, Dietrich R. T. Zahn, Christoph J. Brabec, Natalie Banerji, Yana Vaynzof, Eva M. Herzig, Roderick C. MacKenzie, Carsten Deibel
Summary: The stability of organic solar cells is crucial for their commercialization. This study investigates the thermal degradation of inverted photovoltaic devices based on the PM6:Y6 non-fullerene system and identifies trap-induced transport resistance as the primary cause of the drop in fill factor. By suppressing trap formation, device lifetimes could be significantly increased, offering a promising future for organic solar cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qiaoshuang Zhang, Maximilian Schambach, Stefan Schlisske, Qihao Jin, Adrian Mertens, Christian Rainer, Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, Michael Heizmann, Uli Lemmer
Summary: This study reports the fabrication of microlens arrays on unstructured substrates using inkjet printing on top of self-assembled monolayers. The printed microlenses demonstrate high uniformity and fill factor, and can be fabricated on both rigid and flexible substrates, offering a pathway for customized microoptics by additive manufacturing.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Manuel Pietsch, Nerea Casado, David Mecerreyes, Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa
Summary: This work presents the fabrication of ecofriendly dual-mode displays using sustainable processing techniques. The displays can switch between reflective and emissive modes by combining electrochromic and electrochemiluminescent layers. The fabricated devices showed clear readability in both reflective and emissive modes.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jochen A. Kammerer, Florian Feist, Daniel Ryklin, Abhishek Sarkar, Christopher Barner-Kowollik, Rasmus R. Schroder
Summary: It is shown that the postfunctionalization of solid polymeric microspheres can produce fully and extensively functionalized materials instead of core-shell structures. The complete functionalization is exemplified by photochemically generated microspheres, which are subsequently converted into polyradical systems. By directly visualizing the chemical distribution inside the postfunctionalized microspheres using characteristic electron energy loss signals in transmission electron microscopy (TEM), this study pioneers characterization methods with high sensitivity and resolution for all-organic low-contrast soft-matter material structures. The successful combination of ultrasonic ultramicrotomy and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) in TEM opens up a new avenue for analyzing such structures.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lisa Ross, Julius Reitemeier, Farhad Ghalami, Wen-Shan Zhang, Jurgen H. Gross, Frank Rominger, Sven M. Elbert, Rasmus Schroeder, Marcus Elstner, Michael Mastalerz
Summary: In this study, the solution and solid-state behavior of two-dimensionally triptycene end-capped QPPs were investigated. QPPs were synthesized through condensation reactions with pyrene-based tetraketone and ortho-diamines, resulting in the formation of dimers in solution, supported by MALDI-TIMS-TOF-MS analysis. Single-crystal X-ray analysis showed a short p-p distance of 3.3-3.4 angstrom and a perfect shape match during the dimerization of triptycene end-capped QPPs, indicating its potential as a synthon for crystal engineering.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brandon T. DiTullio, Lisa R. Savagian, Olivier Bardagot, Michel De Keersmaecker, Anna M. Osterholm, Natalie Banerji, John R. Reynolds
Summary: Understanding the impact of side chains on the aqueous redox properties of conjugated polymers is crucial for their potential in bioelectrochemical devices, such as organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). This study investigates the effect of side chains on the performance and properties of propylenedioxythiophene-based copolymers functionalized with glyme side chains. The results show that long polar side chains are not necessary for achieving high volumetric capacitance, as short hydroxy substituents can also provide high capacitance in saline-based electrolytes. Additionally, varying the length of the polar glyme chains leads to subtle changes in material properties and performance.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fabian Schackmar, Felix Laufer, Roja Singh, Ahmed Farag, Helge Eggers, Saba Gharibzadeh, Bahram Abdollahi Nejand, Uli Lemmer, Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, Ulrich W. Paetzold
Summary: Vacuum-assisted growth (VAG) control is a promising method for controlling nucleation and crystallization of lead halide perovskite-based layers. Real-time monitoring of the VAG process is crucial for fabricating high-quality thin films. A multichannel photoluminescence and reflection imaging system is developed and used for in situ analysis of drying, nucleation, and crystal growth during VAG.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Henning Mescher, Fabian Schackmar, Robert Huber, Helge Eggers, Marcus Zuber, Elias Hamann, Georg Gramlich, Julian Dangelmaier, Qiaoshuang Zhang, Andres Georg Roesch, Thomas Zwick, Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, Ulrich W. Paetzold, Uli Lemmer
Summary: Perovskite-based folded X-ray detector with high sensitivity and spatial resolution is achieved through the printability of perovskite-based semiconductors. The performance of the folded detector is outstanding without the need for photolithography. The X-ray sensitivity of the folded detector reaches several hundred muC/(Gy(air)cm(2)) and a record value of 1409 muC/(Gy(air)cm(2)) at 150 kVp without photoconductive gain, demonstrating the potential for high spatial resolution.
NPJ FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Ana Arche-Nunez, Peter Krebsbach, Bara Levit, Daniel Possti, Aaron Gerston, Thorsten Knoll, Thomas Velten, Chen Bar-Haim, Shani Oz, Shira Klorfeld-Auslender, Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, Anat Mirelman, Yael Hanein
Summary: This study analyzed the noise characteristics of dry electrodes and investigated the impact of physiological activity on the link between impedance and noise. The results showed that baseline noise values from dry electrodes on the arm were consistent with the Nyquist equation, while the measured noise values on the face were higher than predicted. The study also examined the effects of different electrode properties on performance.
PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lucas Ueberricke, Felix Mildner, Yuquan Wu, Elisa Thauer, Tom Wickenhaeuser, Wen-Shan Zhang, Yana Vaynzof, Sven M. Elbert, Rasmus R. Schroeder, Ruediger Klingeler, Michael Mastalerz
Summary: Redox active, insoluble pyrene tetraone based dendritic porous polymers were synthesized and characterized as active material for lithium ion secondary batteries. The polymers exhibited reversible redox activity with a specific capacity of up to 137 mA h g(-1) and a capacity retention of 86% after 50 cycles, as determined by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
