A p‐Type Liquid‐Crystal Semiconductor with Synergistic Morphological and Charge‐Dynamic Modulation Enables 20.3%‐Efficiency Binary Organic Solar Cells

T Tianqi Chen Y Yanyi Zhong (College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanhu Laser Laboratory, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High Energy Laser Technology National University of Defense Technology Changsha 410073 P.R. China) X Xuehang Dong (School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials Nankai University Tianjin 300350 China) J Jiaying Wang (School of Materials Science and Engineering) W Wanying Feng (Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) J Jiangbin Zhang (College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanhu Laser Laboratory, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High Energy Laser Technology National University of Defense Technology Changsha 410073 P.R. China) K Kai Han (Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center for Quantum Technology Research and School of Physics) A Adiljan Wupu (State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China) W Weifei Fu (Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Functional Materials and Devices Zhejiang University‐Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center Hangzhou 311200 P. R. China) B Bin Kan (School of Materials Science and Engineering) Y Yongsheng Chen (Department of Neurosurgery The Tenth Affiliated Hospital Southern Medical University Dongguan China)

Abstract

Abstract Solid additives serve as an effective strategy for modulating the morphology of organic solar cell (OSC) active layers, which critically linked to devices performance. However, current solid additives primarily focus on morphological control, while their inherently weak electrical characteristics may limit improvements in carrier mobility and other electrical properties. This study innovatively introduces a p‐type rod‐like liquid crystalline (LC) organic‐semiconductor, 2‐decyl‐7‐phenylbenzo[b]benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3‐d]thiophene (Ph‐BTBT‐10), as a multifunctional additive in D18:L8‐BO‐based binary OSCs. Benefiting from its strong π‐π stacking and high intrinsic mobility, Ph‐BTBT‐10 enables precise morphological control while simultaneously improving electrical properties. This dual effect synergistically extends exciton diffusion length, enhances charge separation, suppresses recombination, and significantly boosts hole mobility in blend films. Consequently, the optimized binary devices attained a competitive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.3%, alongside a short‐circuit current density of 27.28 mA cm −2 and fill factor of 80.5%. To the best of knowledge, this performance ranks among the highest reported for binary systems exceeding the 20% PCE threshold. This work demonstrates that p‐type LC semiconductors function as multifunctional additives capable of concurrently regulating morphology and boosting intrinsic electrical properties by establishing expanded charge‐transport networks, presenting a promising new paradigm for advancing OSC performance.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 44
Published November 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

T

Tianqi Chen

Y

Yanyi Zhong

College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanhu Laser Laboratory, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High Energy Laser Technology National University of Defense Technology Changsha 410073 P.R. China

X

Xuehang Dong

School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials Nankai University Tianjin 300350 China

J

Jiaying Wang

School of Materials Science and Engineering

W

Wanying Feng

Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

J

Jiangbin Zhang

College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanhu Laser Laboratory, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High Energy Laser Technology National University of Defense Technology Changsha 410073 P.R. China

K

Kai Han

Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center for Quantum Technology Research and School of Physics

A

Adiljan Wupu

State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China

W

Weifei Fu

Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Functional Materials and Devices Zhejiang University‐Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center Hangzhou 311200 P. R. China

B

Bin Kan

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Y

Yongsheng Chen

Department of Neurosurgery The Tenth Affiliated Hospital Southern Medical University Dongguan China