A General Elastomeric Agent to Addressing Embrittlement in High‐Efficiency Organic Solar Cells

S Saimeng Li (School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials For Intelligent Sensing Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin University Tianjin China) Y Yufei Wang (Chemistry Division) C Chunlong Sun J Jintao Feng J Jingyu Zuo (School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China) B Bing Sun D Dexia Han (School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China) M Mengyuan Gao X Xin Li B Biao Xiao W Wenchao Zhao V Vakhobjon Kuvondikov (Institute of Ion‐Plasma and Laser Technologies Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences Tashkent Uzbekistan) S Sherzod Nematov (Karshi State Technical University Karshi Uzbekistan) T Tao Jia (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) G Guangye Zhang L Long Ye (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits, Ministry of Education, Collaborative innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin))

Abstract

Abstract Organic solar cells (OSCs) that combine high photovoltaic efficiency with mechanical resilience are critical for wearable devices. However, prevalent acceptors often act as stress concentrators, leading to film embrittlement. A general toughening approach remains elusive. Here, a broadly applicable strategy is introduced using SEEPS, an elastomeric agent with finely‐tailored miscibility with the acceptor to toughen OSCs. A toughening parameter η , derived from dynamic mechanical analysis is defined, that quantitatively correlates with elastomer‐acceptor miscibility with mechanical enhancement. SEEPS induces pronounced secondary relaxations that dissipate strain energy, yielding an over 11‐fold increase in fracture strain. In situ grazing‐incidence X‐ray scattering reveals that SEEPS preserves molecular packing and suppresses phase separation under strain. The resulting intrinsically stretchable OSCs retain four‐fifths of starting efficiency after 500 stretch‐release cycles at 40% strain, and sustain its four‐fifths efficiency at 52% strain. This work achieves record‐breaking efficiency over 16% while preserving exceptional mechanical stretchability, offering insights for high‐performance stretchable photovoltaics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 8
Published February 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (16)

S

Saimeng Li

School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials For Intelligent Sensing Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin University Tianjin China

Y

Yufei Wang

Chemistry Division

C

Chunlong Sun

J

Jintao Feng

J

Jingyu Zuo

School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

B

Bing Sun

D

Dexia Han

School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

M

Mengyuan Gao

X

Xin Li

B

Biao Xiao

W

Wenchao Zhao

V

Vakhobjon Kuvondikov

Institute of Ion‐Plasma and Laser Technologies Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences Tashkent Uzbekistan

S

Sherzod Nematov

Karshi State Technical University Karshi Uzbekistan

T

Tao Jia

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

G

Guangye Zhang

L

Long Ye

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits, Ministry of Education, Collaborative innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)