Smartly Optimizing Crystallinity, Compatibility, and Morphology for Polymer Solar Cells by Small Molecule Acceptor with Unique 2D-EDOT Side Chain

Deng, Min; Xu, Xiaopeng; Duan, Yuwei; Yu, Liyang; Li, Ruipeng; Peng, Qiang

doi:10.1002/adfm.202212290

Smartly Optimizing Crystallinity, Compatibility, and Morphology for Polymer Solar Cells by Small Molecule Acceptor with Unique 2D-EDOT Side Chain

Journal Article · Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Advanced Functional Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202212290· OSTI ID:1973506

Deng, Min ^[1]; Xu, Xiaopeng ^[2]; Duan, Yuwei ^[3]; Yu, Liyang ^[4]; Li, Ruipeng ^[5]; ^[4]

Chengdu University of Technology (China)
Sichuan Univ., Chengdu (China)
Shaanxi Normal University (China)
Chengdu University of Technology (China); Sichuan Univ., Chengdu (China)
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

A desired morphology is essential for achieving efficient polymer solar cells. Donors and acceptors with appropriate crystallization can lead to a suitable phase-separated morphology for effective photocurrent generation process. Inspired by the success of Y6 acceptors and the 2D side chain engineering on popular polymer donors and small molecule acceptors, the usage of unique 2D 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT) side chains on Y6 to regulate its crystallinity, compatibility, and thus the related blend morphology is explored. Here, in this study, two molecules of BTP-EDOT-4F and BTP-EDOT-4Cl with such unique 2D EDOT side chains are designed and synthesized. Due to the advantage of EDOT side chain, when these molecules are blended with PM6, the decent power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 16.78% and 15.87% are obtained. Furthermore, BTP-EDOT-4F is selected as the third component and added into PM6:L8-BO binary system to form ternary blends. The optimized crystallinity, compatibility, and morphology of such ternary blend are discovered in the presence of BTP-EDOT-4F, which enables efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport as well as decreased recombination, resulting in higher short circuit current density (J_sc) and fill factor. Finally, the outstanding PCE of 18.56% is achieved in ternary blends containing PM6, L8-BO, and BTP-EDOT-4F.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 1973506

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1909738

Report Number(s):: BNL-224380-2023-JAAM

Journal Information:: Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Functional Materials Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 33; ISSN 1616-301X

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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