Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongmei Zhuo, Xiaojun Li, Jinyuan Zhang, Shucheng Qin, Jing Guo, Ruimin Zhou, Xin Jiang, Xiangxi Wu, Zekun Chen, Jing Li, Lei Meng, Yongfang Li
Summary: Two giant molecule acceptors, EV-i and EV-o, with longer alkyl side chains were developed for fabricating high efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs). The OSC with EV-i as acceptor processed by the non-halogenated solvent exhibited a higher PCE of 18.27%, while EV-o showed a much lower PCE of 2.50%. This indicates that giant molecule acceptors with suitable linking site are excellent candidates for high performance OSCs processed by non-halogenated solvents.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Di Wang, Guanqing Zhou, Yuhao Li, Kangrong Yan, Lingling Zhan, Haiming Zhu, Xinhui Lu, Hongzheng Chen, Chang-Zhi Li
Summary: The study demonstrates that high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs) can be obtained from hot spin processing of different non-halogenated solvents, achieving the highest reported efficiency of OSCs so far. The phase evolution of ternary blends during solution-to-solid transition is found to be correlated to the substrate temperature, and optimal blend films can be secured in various non-halogenated solvents with elevated substrate temperature. As a result, high-performance OSCs with excellent power conversion efficiencies have been achieved in o-xylene, p-xylene, and toluene, respectively, representing the best-performing OSCs made from non-halogenated solvents to date.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Feng Zhao, Xiangjun Zheng, Shuixing Li, Kangrong Yan, Weifei Fu, Lijian Zuo, Hongzheng Chen
Summary: Organic solar cells (OSCs) have the potential for low-cost and greener solar energy utilization. This study presents high-performance OSC devices using non-halogen solvents and additives, demonstrating the advantages of green processing, flexibility, and upscaling.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tao Jia, Jiabin Zhang, Haoran Tang, Jianchao Jia, Kai Zhang, Wanyuan Deng, Sheng Dong, Fei Huang
Summary: The power conversion efficiencies of all-polymer solar cells have been significantly improved recently due to the usage of emerging polymerized small molecule acceptors. However, most of the processing methods for these solar cells involve halogenated solvents, which are not suitable for future mass production. In this study, non-halogenated solvent processable PSMAs are designed by integrating side-chain and backbone regioisomer engineering.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zuojia Li, Kui Feng, Jingwei Wang, Min Li, Qianqian Xu, Xiaochang Li, Xugang Guo
Summary: In this study, eco-friendly solvent-processed all-polymer solar cells were developed using wide-bandgap polymer PSTZ and narrow-bandgap polymer DCNBT-IDT as materials. The solar cells processed with o-xylene and THF showed remarkable power conversion efficiencies and high short-circuit currents, indicating that utilizing a blend of narrow polymer acceptor and compatible polymer donor is an effective strategy for advancing eco-friendly solvent-processed all-PSCs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanan Liu, Jianqi Zhang, Chenyang Tian, Yifan Shen, Tong Wang, Hao Zhang, Chang He, Dingding Qiu, Yanan Shi, Zhixiang Wei
Summary: The commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs) requires the use of roll-to-roll coating technology. However, it is generally believed that all-small-molecule (ASM) systems cannot form high-quality films in most film-fabrication technologies except for spin coating. This study found that strong intermolecular interaction in the small molecule donor and acceptor system can weaken molecular self-aggregation, enabling the successful fabrication of ASM-OSCs using spin coating and slot-die coating technology.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Runnan Yu, Huifeng Yao, Ye Xu, Jiayao Li, Ling Hong, Tao Zhang, Yong Cui, Zhongxiang Peng, Mengyuan Gao, Long Ye, Zhan'ao Tan, Jianhui Hou
Summary: The use of the small molecule additive DTBF, with high volatility and a strong quadrupole moment, to control the active layer morphology in organic solar cells has led to enhanced photoelectric properties and efficiencies reaching over 17%. This study highlights a simple approach to optimizing active layer morphology by manipulating the quadrupole moment of volatile solid additives.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hongming Hou, Taotao Hu, Fu Zhang, Rui Liu, Jialong He, Chang Liu, Yue Yu, Dong Chen, Qiaofeng Wu, Meng Zhang, Hua Yu
Summary: Introducing a cross-linkable small molecule of 2-mercaptoimidazole (2-MI) into the nickel oxide (NiOx)/2D perovskite interface led to the formation of Ni-N covalent bond and coordination between S atom of 2-MI and under-coordinated Pb2+. This helps to create a crosslinking to restrain charge carrier recombination and enhance hole carrier extraction, thereby improving the efficiency of inverted 2D perovskite solar cells.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chaoyue Zhao, Jicheng Yi, Lihong Wang, Guanyu Lu, Hui Huang, Ha Kyung Kim, Han Yu, Chen Xie, Peng You, Guanghao Lu, Mingxia Qiu, He Yan, Shunpu Li, Guangye Zhang
Summary: The development of PSMAs has significantly improved the efficiency of all-polymer solar cells. By improving processing methods and solvent selection, the electron mobility can be effectively increased, resulting in higher efficiency compared to traditional approaches.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bo-Tau Liu, Jhe-Hao Yang, Yu-She Huang
Summary: This study successfully fabricated high-quality perovskite solar cells under a high humidity atmosphere through the substrate preheating process, leading to improved photovoltaic properties. The highest power conversion efficiency was achieved with a substrate preheating temperature of 120 degrees C, showcasing a promising way for the fabrication of PSCs under high humidity conditions.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Junhao Zeng, Conggui Jin, Lin Shao, Chunxiang Li, Renlong Li, Baobing Fan, Alex K. -Y. Jen, Liangbing Xiong, Shaoan Zhang, Yang Lv, Tao Jia, Manjun Xiao, Ruihao Xie
Summary: The end-group modification engineering has been applied in non-fullerene acceptors to improve the performance of organic solar cells. In this study, a series of small-molecule acceptors with different positions of electron-withdrawing thiazole units were designed and synthesized. These acceptors exhibited strong absorption and similar energy levels, leading to higher power conversion efficiency. Further analysis showed that introducing thiazole units into the gamma position of end groups can enhance charge transport, suppress recombination, and improve film morphology.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hemraj Dahiya, Virginia Cuesta, Pilar de la Cruz, Fernando Langa, Ganesh D. Sharma
Summary: By optimizing the ternary blend VC7:PC71BM:IT-4F, researchers were able to enhance the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells due to the increase in the parameters VOC, JSC, and FF.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinxing Liu, Zizheng Wu, Xiaoxiao Fu, Liting Tang, Jianmin Li, Junbo Gong, Xudong Xiao
Summary: A highly efficient wide-band-gap perovskite solar cell device has been successfully fabricated using the two-step sequential deposition method in this study, with a bandgap of 1.63-1.65 eV; the best solar cell obtained has a power conversion efficiency of 20.35% and a fill factor (FF) of 81.53%.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Muller, Ershuai Jiang, Laura Campos Guzman, Paula Rivas Lazaro, Clemens Baretzky, Shankar Bogati, Birger Zimmermann, Uli Wurfel
Summary: Organic Photovoltaics (OPV) is a promising technology for powering IoT devices with artificial illumination. OPVs can achieve efficiencies as high as 30.2% under warm white LED light and show remarkable stability under indoor illumination. A study on cost-effective ITO-free cell stack with absorber materials processed from non-halogenated solvents has achieved efficiencies up to 21% with outstanding stabilities. Further efficiency increase can be expected with a wide range of potential organic semiconducting materials.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Youzhan Li, Jiang Wu, Xueting Yi, Zekun Liu, He Liu, Yingying Fu, Jian Liu, Zhiyuan Xie
Summary: This study successfully developed high-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) using non-halogenated solvents and layer-by-layer (LBL) blade-coating technique. The addition of non-halogenated solvent additive 1,2-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) was found to promote the growth of nano-crystals and improve the photocurrent conversion efficiency.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liangang Xiao, Cong Yan, Zhengdong Li, Wenkai Zhong, Wanyi Tan, Yidong Liu, Feng Liu, Xiaobin Peng, Yonggang Min
Summary: Advancements in small-molecule non-fullerene acceptors have increased the power conversion efficiencies of organic solar cells. By improving crystallization properties and emphasizing the importance of morphology control during fabrication, highly efficient all-small molecule solar cells have been successfully developed.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liangang Xiao, Xing Wu, Guoxing Ren, Matthew A. Kolaczkowski, Guang Huang, Wanyi Tan, Lin Ma, Yidong Liu, Xiaobin Peng, Yonggang Min, Yi Liu
Summary: The introduction of a third component and non-fullerene acceptors in organic solar cells has significantly improved their photovoltaic performance, with ternary solar cells showing enhanced efficiency through the synergistic effects of IDTT-M and Y6.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinqiu Xu, Sae Byeok Jo, Xiankai Chen, Guanqing Zhou, Ming Zhang, Xueliang Shi, Francis Lin, Lei Zhu, Tianyu Hao, Ke Gao, Yecheng Zou, Xuan Su, Wei Feng, Alex K-Y Jen, Yongming Zhang, Feng Liu
Summary: The success of NFA solar cells depends not only on extended absorption and suitable energy levels, but also on the unique physical properties of the nonfullerene acceptors. This study investigates the morphology and photophysical behavior of PBDB-T donor blended with various acceptors, demonstrating the importance of molecular assembly and photophysics in the efficiency of carrier formation. The new carrier generation mechanism and multi-length-scale morphology in blended films hold promising potential for fundamental advantages in NFA solar cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yong-Wen Zhang, Jia-Ming Liang, Zheng-Liang Diao, Ji-Yang Chen, Wan-Yi Tan, Yan-Nan Qian, Lian-Gang Xiao, Yonggang Min
Summary: The introduction of a bifunctional phosphate molecule (DIDOPO) as a passivation agent effectively passivates defects in perovskite, leading to improved radiative recombination and enhanced efficiency of PeLEDs. Additionally, the improved morphology of perovskite film facilitates good contact with charge transport layers and reduces leakage current, resulting in improved device performance. The presence of DIDOPO also enhances moisture resistance of PeLEDs, maintaining high efficiency after storage in ambient atmosphere for 120 hours.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yanna Sun, Ruijie Ma, Yuanyuan Kan, Tao Liu, Kangkang Zhou, Pengke Liu, Jin Fang, Yirao Chen, Long Ye, Changqi Ma, He Yan, Ke Gao
Summary: All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) are promising due to their operational and mechanical stability, but their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are low. This study demonstrates the successful use of low-cost technical grade PCBM and efficient all-polymer blends to fabricate high-performance ternary devices with excellent mechanical properties.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Le Liu, Yuanyuan Kan, Guangliu Ran, Min Zhao, Zhiyu Jia, Siqi Chen, Jianxiao Wang, Hao Chen, Chengjie Zhao, Ke Gao, Wenkai Zhang, Tonggang Jiu
Summary: Interfacial engineering plays a critical role in the fabrication of high-efficiency solar cells. The use of highly dispersible graphdiyne oxide (GDYO) with functional groups improves the charge carrier dynamics in organic solar cells. The optimized charge carrier transfer channel, enhanced conductivity and mobility, improved interfacial contact, and optimized active layer morphology contribute to the higher performance of the solar cells.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yanna Sun, Huajun Xu, Yuanyuan Kan, Ke Gao
SCIENCE CHINA-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
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huajun Xu, Yanna Sun, Yuanyuan Kan, Ke Gao
Summary: This review summarizes the strategies to improve the electro-optic activity of organic materials and highlights recent progress in the design of high-performance OEO materials. It also discusses the challenges that need to be addressed in the application of current OEO materials.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanna Sun, Li Nian, Yuanyuan Kan, Yi Ren, Zhihao Chen, Lei Zhu, Ming Zhang, Hang Yin, Huajun Xu, Jianfeng Li, Xiaotao Hao, Feng Liu, Ke Gao, Yuliang Li
Summary: A highly efficient all-small-molecule organic solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 17.18% is demonstrated through layer-by-layer deposition and solid additive treatment. The controlled morphology allows for ordered molecular stacking and vertical charge transport, resulting in enhanced carrier generation and transport.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fei Meng, Ying Qin, Yiting Zheng, Zhihan Zhao, Yanna Sun, Yingguo Yang, Ke Gao, Dongbing Zhao
Summary: The design and synthesis of two asymmetric silicon-oxygen bridged guest acceptors with distinct properties greatly improved the photovoltaic performance of ternary organic solar cells. Ternary devices incorporating these acceptors achieved high power conversion efficiencies of 18.22% and 18.77%. The fusion of five-membered carbon linkages and six-membered silicon-oxygen connection provided precise control of material properties, attracting significant attention for the development of more efficient OSCs.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiang-Rong Luo, Yi-Dong Liu, Heng Liu, Wei-Peng Chen, Ting-Ting Cui, Liangang Xiao, Yonggang Min
Summary: A new aromatic diamine monomer NADA was synthesized and a series of modified PI films containing naphthalene ring structure were obtained. The introduction of the naphthalene ring was found to improve the comprehensive properties of the modified films.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shichu Peng, Jinxin Luo, Peng Li, Liangang Xiao, Chongqing Yang, Yaocheng Jin, Ruiying Lin, Yanping Huo, Yi Liu, Yonggang Min
Summary: The miscibility between active layer materials is crucial in organic solar cells. This study demonstrates that by incorporating a third component with similar building blocks, the crystallization of BTR-Cl can be relieved and the film morphology can be improved, leading to enhanced photovoltaic efficiency.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jifa Wu, Feng Tang, Shaoguang Wu, Yumeng Li, Liangang Xiao, Xuhui Zhu, Xiaobin Peng
Summary: This study introduces the use of a small molecule Phen-NaDPO to modify the tin oxide electron-transport layer in organic solar cells. The modification effectively passivates surface defects, reduces work function, and improves electrical conductivity, leading to enhanced electron extraction and transport. The modified devices also exhibit exceptional stability in various environmental conditions.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ruijie Ma, Kangkang Zhou, Yanna Sun, Tao Liu, Yuanyuan Kan, Yiqun Xiao, Top Archie Dela Pena, Yixin Li, Xinhui Zou, Zengshan Xing, Zhenghui Luo, Kam Sing Wong, Xinhui Lu, Long Ye, He Yan, Ke Gao
Summary: All-polymer solar cells (APSCs) are a promising application-oriented photovoltaic technology that offers operational and mechanical stability. However, their low power conversion efficiency has limited their competitiveness compared to other types of solar cells. In this study, we achieved improved performance of APSCs by enhancing energy transfer, tuning crystallinity, and improving phase separation, leading to faster charge transfer, balanced charge transport, suppressed exciton recombination, and more efficient charge extraction. The study also highlighted the importance of good miscibility between polymer donors in maintaining film morphology and ductility.
