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Equally high efficiencies of organic solar cells processed from different solvents reveal key factors for morphology control

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Zhang

    (Linköping University)

  • Haiyang Chen

    (Soochow University)

  • Tonghui Wang

    (Jilin University)

  • Libor Kobera

    (Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Lilin He

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Yuting Huang

    (Soochow University)

  • Junyuan Ding

    (Soochow University)

  • Ben Zhang

    (Soochow University)

  • Azzaya Khasbaatar

    (University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign)

  • Sadisha Nanayakkara

    (University of Arizona)

  • Jialei Zheng

    (Soochow University)

  • Weijie Chen

    (Soochow University)

  • Ying Diao

    (University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign)

  • Sabina Abbrent

    (Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Jiri Brus

    (Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Aidan H. Coffey

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Chenhui Zhu

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Heng Liu

    (Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Xinhui Lu

    (Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Qing Jiang

    (Jilin University)

  • Veaceslav Coropceanu

    (University of Arizona)

  • Jean-Luc Brédas

    (University of Arizona)

  • Yongfang Li

    (Soochow University
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yaowen Li

    (Soochow University)

  • Feng Gao

    (Linköping University
    Linköping University)

Abstract

The power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) is exceeding 20%, an advance in which morphology optimization has played a significant role. It is generally accepted that the processing solvent (or solvent mixture) can help optimize morphology, impacting the OSC efficiency. Here we develop OSCs that show strong tolerance to a range of processing solvents, with all devices delivering high power conversion efficiencies around 19%. By investigating the solution states, the film formation dynamics and the characteristics of the processed films both experimentally and computationally, we identify the key factors that control morphology, that is, the interactions between the side chains of the acceptor materials and the solvent as well as the interactions between the donor and acceptor materials. Our work provides new understanding on the long-standing question of morphology control and effective guides to design OSC materials towards practical applications, where green solvents are required for large-scale processing.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Zhang & Haiyang Chen & Tonghui Wang & Libor Kobera & Lilin He & Yuting Huang & Junyuan Ding & Ben Zhang & Azzaya Khasbaatar & Sadisha Nanayakkara & Jialei Zheng & Weijie Chen & Ying Diao & Sabina , 2025. "Equally high efficiencies of organic solar cells processed from different solvents reveal key factors for morphology control," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 124-134, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:10:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41560-024-01678-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01678-5
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