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Efficient all-small-molecule organic solar cells processed with non-halogen solvent

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Gao

    (Huaqiao University)

  • Ruijie Ma

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Top Archie Dela Peña

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Cenqi Yan

    (Sichuan University)

  • Hongxiang Li

    (Sichuan University)

  • Mingjie Li

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Jiaying Wu

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Pei Cheng

    (Sichuan University)

  • Cheng Zhong

    (Wuhan University)

  • Zhanhua Wei

    (Huaqiao University)

  • Alex K.-Y. Jen

    (City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong)

  • Gang Li

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Abstract

All-small-molecule organic solar cells with good batch-to-batch reproducibility combined with non-halogen solvent processing show great potential for commercialization. However, non-halogen solvent processing of all-small-molecule organic solar cells are rarely reported and its power conversion efficiencies are very difficult to improve. Herein, we designed and synthesized a small molecule donor BM-ClEH that can take advantage of strong aggregation property induced by intramolecular chlorine-sulfur non-covalent interaction to improve molecular pre-aggregation in tetrahydrofuran and corresponding micromorphology after film formation. Tetrahydrofuran-fabricated all-small-molecule organic solar cells based on BM-ClEH:BO-4Cl achieved high power conversion efficiencies of 15.0% in binary device and 16.1% in ternary device under thermal annealing treatment. In contrast, weakly aggregated BM-HEH without chlorine-sulfur non-covalent bond is almost inefficient under same processing conditions due to poor pre-aggregation induced disordered π-π stacking, indistinct phase separation and exciton dissociation. This work promotes the development of non-halogen solvent processing of all-small-molecule organic solar cells and provides further guidance.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Gao & Ruijie Ma & Top Archie Dela Peña & Cenqi Yan & Hongxiang Li & Mingjie Li & Jiaying Wu & Pei Cheng & Cheng Zhong & Zhanhua Wei & Alex K.-Y. Jen & Gang Li, 2024. "Efficient all-small-molecule organic solar cells processed with non-halogen solvent," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46144-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46144-8
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