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Influence of Donor Polymer on the Molecular Ordering of Small Molecular Acceptors in Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells

Journal Article · · Advanced Energy Materials
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [2];  [4];  [4];  [3]
  1. Department of Chemistry and Energy Institute The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong, Department of Physics and Organic and Carbon Electronics Lab (ORaCEL) North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA
  2. Department of Chemistry and Energy Institute The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong
  3. Department of Chemistry and Energy Institute The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong, HKUST‐Shenzhen Research Institute No. 9 Yuexing 1st Road, Hi‐tech Park Nanshan Shenzhen 518057 China
  4. Department of Physics and Organic and Carbon Electronics Lab (ORaCEL) North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA
Abstract

Nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on polymer donors and nonfullerene small molecular acceptors (SMAs) have recently attracted considerable attention. Although much of the progress is driven by the development of novel SMAs, the donor polymer also plays an important role in achieving efficient nonfullerene PSCs. However, it is far from clear how the polymer donor choice influences the morphology and performance of the SMAs and the nonfullerene blends. In addition, it is challenging to carry out quantitative analysis of the morphology of polymer:SMA blends, due to the low material contrast and overlapping scattering features of the π–π stacking between the two organic components. Here, a series of nonfullerene blends is studied based on ITIC‐Th blended with five different donor polymers. Through quantitative morphology analysis, the (010) coherence length of the SMA is characterized and a positive correlation between the coherence length of the SMA and the device fill factor (FF) is established. The study reveals that the donor polymer can significantly change the molecular ordering of the SMA and thus improve the electron mobility and domain purity of the blend, which has an overall positive effect that leads to the enhanced device FF for nonfullerene PSCs.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1396413
Journal Information:
Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 8; ISSN 1614-6832
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English

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