Dual aggregation steering in bulk-heterojunction via solvent engineering toward efficient and stable binary organic solar cells

Lin, Yijing; Zheng, Bing; Liu, Xingting; Xu, Huizhen; Yu, Liyang; Li, Ruipeng; Song, Xin; Zhu, Weiguo

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2025.172308

Dual aggregation steering in bulk-heterojunction via solvent engineering toward efficient and stable binary organic solar cells

Journal Article · Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 EST 2025 · Chemical Engineering Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.172308· OSTI ID:3017373

Lin, Yijing ^[1]; ^[2]; Liu, Xingting ^[1]; Xu, Huizhen ^[1]; Yu, Liyang ^[3]; ^[4]; Song, Xin ^[1]; Zhu, Weiguo ^[1]

Changzhou University (China)
Shandong Second Medical University (China)
Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu (China)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

In high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs), efficient charge transport hinges on a well-optimized morphology of the photoactive layer, which depends critically on controlled aggregation and favorable interactions between donor and acceptor materials. In this work, we introduce a cascade solvent system comprising high-boiling-point ethylbenzene (EB) and low-boiling-point chloroform (CF) to finely tune the aggregation behavior of the D18 donor and L8-BO acceptor. The incorporation of EB not only promotes the H-aggregation of D18 and the J-aggregation of L8-BO but also facilitates the formation of ideal nanoscale phase separation, thereby suppressing bimolecular recombination. As a result, devices processed with the EB/CF solvent blend achieve a best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.6 % and enhanced operational stability, outperforming those fabricated with pure CF (17.1 %). In conclusion, this study offers a reliable and effective strategy for optimizing donor and acceptor aggregation, providing a viable pathway toward higher-performance OSCs.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

Sponsoring Organization:: National Natural Science Foundation of China; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

Other Award/Contract Number:: 22575029
62105129

OSTI ID:: 3017373

Report Number(s):: BNL--229392-2026-JAAM

Journal Information:: Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Journal Vol. 528; ISSN 1385-8947

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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