Stability of organic solar cells: toward commercial applications

Chemical Society Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 53(5), P. 2350 - 2387

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have attracted a great deal of attention in the field clean energy due to their advantages transparency, flexibility, low cost and light weight. Introducing them market enables seamless integration into buildings windows, while also supporting wearable, portable electronics internet-of-things (IoT) devices. With development photovoltaic materials optimization fabrication technology, power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) OSCs rapidly improved now exceed 20%. However, there is significant lack focus on material stability device lifetime, causing severe hindrance commercial applications. In this review, we carefully review important strategies employed improve over past three years from perspectives design engineering. Furthermore, analyze discuss current progress terms air, light, thermal mechanical stability. Finally, propose future research directions overcome challenges achieving highly stable OSCs. We expect that will contribute solving problem OSCs, eventually paving way for applications near future.

Language: Английский

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Achieving Record‐High Stretchability and Mechanical Stability in Organic Photovoltaic Blends with a Dilute‐absorber Strategy

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 36(8)

Published: Oct. 22, 2023

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have potential for applications in wearable electronics. Except high power conversion efficiency (PCE), excellent tensile properties and mechanical stability are required achieving high-performance OSCs, while the present metrics barely meet stretchable requirements. Herein, this work proposes a facile low-cost strategy constructing intrinsically OSCs by introducing readily accessible polymer elastomer as diluent all-polymer photovoltaic blends. Remarkably, record-high stretchability with fracture strain of up to 1000% elastic recovery >90% under cyclic tests realized active layers first time. Specifically, best-performing blends increased 250 times after blending. Previously unattainable performance (fracture >50% PCE >10%) achieved simultaneously resulting films. Furthermore, an overall evaluation parameter y is proposed efficiency-cost- balance blend The value dilute-absorber system two orders magnitude greater than those prior state-of-the-art systems. Additionally, devices prepared showcase stability. Overall, offers new avenue comprehensively evaluating organic electronic

Language: Английский

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Design of Star‐Shaped Trimer Acceptors for High‐Performance (Efficiency > 19%), Photostable, and Mechanically Robust Organic Solar Cells

Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(8)

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Abstract High power conversion efficiency (PCE), long‐term stability, and mechanical robustness are prerequisites for the commercial applications of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, a new star‐shaped trimer acceptor (TYT‐S) is developed high‐performance OSCs with PCE 19.0%, high photo‐stability ( t 80% lifetime = 2600 h under 1‐sun illumination), crack‐onset strain (COS) 21.6% achieved. The isotropic molecular structure TYT‐S affords efficient multi‐directional charge transport electron mobility. Furthermore, its amorphous prevents formation brittle crystal‐to‐crystal interfaces, significantly enhancing properties OSC. As result, TYT‐S‐based demonstrate higher (19.0%) stretchability (COS 21.6%) than linear‐shaped (TYT‐L)‐based (PCE 17.5% COS 6.4%) small‐molecule (MYT)‐based 16.5% 1.3%). addition, increased size TYT‐S, relative to that MYT dimer (DYT), suppresses diffusion kinetics molecules, substantially improving photostability OSCs. Finally, effectively potential intrinsically stretchable (IS)‐OSCs constructed. IS‐OSCs exhibit device (strain at 31%) 14.4%.

Language: Английский

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Advances in Stretchable Organic Photovoltaics: Flexible Transparent Electrodes and Deformable Active Layer Design

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(37)

Published: May 30, 2024

Stretchable organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have attracted significant attention as promising power sources for wearable electronic systems owing to their superior robustness under repetitive tensile strains and good compatibility. However, reconciling a high power-conversion efficiency reasonable flexibility is tremendous challenge. In addition, the development of stretchable OPVs must be accelerated satisfy increasing requirements niche markets mechanical robustness. OPV devices can classified either structurally or intrinsically stretchable. This work reviews recent advances in OPVs, including design mechanically robust transparent electrodes, photovoltaic materials, devices. Initially, an overview characteristics research progress areas provided. Subsequently, into flexible electrodes that directly affect performances summarized analyzed. Overall, this review aims provide in-depth understanding intrinsic properties highly efficient deformable active while also emphasizing advanced strategies simultaneously improving performance layer, material design, multi-component settings, structural optimization.

Language: Английский

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Intrinsically stretchable organic photovoltaics by redistributing strain to PEDOT:PSS with enhanced stretchability and interfacial adhesion

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: June 8, 2024

Abstract Intrinsically stretchable organic photovoltaics have emerged as a prominent candidate for the next-generation wearable power generators regarding their structural design flexibility, omnidirectional stretchability, and in-plane deformability. However, formulating strategies to fabricate intrinsically that exhibit mechanical robustness under both repetitive strain cycles high tensile strains remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate high-performance with an initial conversion efficiency of 14.2%, exceptional stretchability (80% maintained at 52% strain), cyclic durability (95% retained after 100 10%). The is primarily realised by delocalising redistributing in active layer highly PEDOT:PSS electrode developed straightforward incorporation ION E, which simultaneously enhances itself meanwhile reinforces interfacial adhesion polyurethane substrate. Both enhancements are pivotal factors ensuring excellent electrode, further effectively delays crack initiation propagation top layer, enables limited performance degradation cycles.

Language: Английский

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Dimerized Acceptors with Conjugate‐Break Linker Enable Highly Efficient and Mechanically Robust Organic Solar Cells

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 63(22)

Published: March 26, 2024

Abstract Designing new acceptors is critical for intrinsically stretchable organic solar cells (IS‐OSCs) with high efficiency and mechanical robustness. However, nearly all polymer exhibit limited high‐performance small molecular are very brittle. In this regard, we select thienylene‐alkane‐thienylene (TAT) as the conjugate‐break linker synthesize four dimerized by regulation of connecting sites halogen substitutions. It found that substitutions considerably impact overall electronic structures, aggregation behaviors, charge transport properties. Benefiting from optimization structure, acceptor exhibits rational phase separation within blend films, which significantly facilitates exciton dissociation while effectively suppressing recombination processes. Consequently, FDY‐m‐TAT‐based rigid OSCs render highest power conversion (PCE) 18.07 % among reported containing linker. Most importantly, IS‐OSCs achieve PCE (14.29 %) remarkable stretchability (crack‐onset strain [COS]=18.23 %), surpassing Y6‐based counterpart (PCE=12.80 COS=8.50 %). To sum up, these findings demonstrate linkers have immense potential in developing highly efficient mechanically robust OSCs.

Language: Английский

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Intrinsically Stretchable Organic Photovoltaic Cells with Improved Mechanical Durability and Stability via Dual‐Donor Polymer Blending

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(29)

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Abstract Intrinsically stretchable organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) have garnered significant attention as crucial devices for powering next‐generation wearable electronics. Despite the rapid power conversion efficiency gains in champion OPVs, their brittle stretchability has failed to meet demands of Internet Things era, severely hindering further development and practical applications. In this regard, a new dual‐donor polymer blending strategy is demonstrated constructing intrinsically OPVs by designing novel high‐molecular–weight conjugated PM6‐HD. This PM6 derivative featuring long alkyl chains can reach sufficiently high molecular weight thus exhibits fracture strain exceeding 90%, which ≈12 times higher than benchmark PM6. Synergistic optimization mechanical properties performance polymer:small molecule all‐polymer systems constructed from physical blends PM6‐HD achieved. Crucially, resulting OPV demonstrates excellent stability, with record PCE 80% 50.3% retention above even after 1000 cycles cyclic stretching at strains. work contributes advancement technology opens up possibilities its integration into electronic devices.

Language: Английский

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Unveiling the Strain‐induced Microstructural Evolution and Morphology‐Stretchability Correlations of Intrinsically Stretchable Organic Photovoltaic Films

Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(18)

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Abstract The progress of stretchable and wearable photovoltaics relies heavily on intrinsically active layer films. Nevertheless, there is a paucity research clarifying the connections between their microstructure, performance, adaptation to large strain in polymer electronic current study utilizes multiple synchrotron X‐ray scattering methods collectively examine correlations morphology stretchability, as well microstructural evolution induced by stretching three sample cases highly ternary blend These blends contain over 30% weight elastomer, such styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer, integrated into high‐performance polymer:nonfullerene small molecule mixture. Specifically, real‐time changes these durable organic photovoltaic films with elastomers are monitored when subjected tensile through situ scattering. experiments demonstrate that polymeric can effectively lower degree crystallinity deform crystallites semiconductor molecules. elastomeric component aids stress dispersion during stretching, thereby improving durability This provides new recommendations for advancing optoelectronic devices.

Language: Английский

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Mechanically robust and stretchable organic solar cells plasticized by small-molecule acceptors

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6732), P. 381 - 387

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Emerging wearable devices would benefit from integrating ductile photovoltaic light-harvesting power sources. In this work, we report a small-molecule acceptor (SMA), also known as non–fullerene (NFA), designed for stretchable organic solar cell ( s -OSC) blends with large mechanical compliance and performance. Blends of the organosilane-functionalized SMA BTP-Si4 polymer donor PNTB6-Cl achieved conversion efficiency (PCE) >16% ultimate strain (ε u ) >95%. Typical SMAs suppress OSC blend ductility, but addition enhances it. Although is less crystalline than other SMAs, it retains considerable electron mobility highly miscible essential enhancing ε . Thus, -OSCs PCE > 14% operating normally under various deformations (>80% retention an 80% strain) were demonstrated. Analysis several SMA-polymer revealed general molecular structure–miscibility–stretchability relationships designing blends.

Language: Английский

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Dynamic hydrogen-bonding enables high-performance and mechanically robust organic solar cells processed with non-halogenated solvent

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

Developing active-layer systems with both high performance and mechanical robustness is a crucial step towards achieving future commercialization of flexible stretchable organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, we design synthesize series acceptors BTA-C6, BTA-E3, BTA-E6, BTA-E9, featuring the side chains hexyl, 3, 6, 9 carbon-chain ethyl ester end groups respectively. Benefiting from suitable phase separation vertical distribution, PM6:BTA-E3-based OSCs processed by o-xylene exhibit lower energy loss improved charge transport characteristic achieve power conversion efficiency 19.92% (certified 19.57%), which stands as highest recorded value in binary green solvents. Moreover, due to additional hydrogen-bonding provided chain, enhanced stretchability thermal stability. Our work reveals significance dynamic improving photovoltaic performance, robustness, morphological stability OSCs.

Language: Английский

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