Homology‐Guided Zwitterionic Interlayers for 21% Efficiency Non‐Fullerene Organic Solar Cells
Abstract
ABSTRACT The performance evolution of organic solar cells (OSCs) is increasingly constrained by a growing mismatch between state‐of‐the‐art photoactive layers and conventional cathode interlayer materials (CIMs). Here, we report a homology‐guided molecular design strategy to synchronize CIM with fused‐ring electron acceptors (FREAs). Grafting zwitterionic sidechains onto the high‐performance pentacyclic FREA, we created a novel CIM, SZ1. This design grants SZ1 a deeper lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level, higher electron mobility, and superior interfacial compatibility compared to the perylene diimides‐based counterpart. SZ1 simultaneously lowers the cathode work function and elevates the active layer's work function, facilitating Ohmic contact and enhancing electron extraction. SZ1 also acts as a supplemental light‐harvester, with hole/energy transfer at the SZ1/polymer interface contributing to photocurrent generation. These attributes make SZ1 a highly efficient and versatile CIM with an optimal thickness near 30 nm and exceptional thickness tolerance, retaining ∼89% of peak performance even at a thick interlayer of 90 nm. An impressive efficiency of 21.07% is achieved, ranking among the most efficient OSCs. The generality of this homology concept is demonstrated by its successful extension to non‐fused ring electron acceptors. This work establishes a transformative design paradigm for multifunctional, thickness‐insensitive interlayers, paving the way for commercially viable OSCs.
Article Details
Authors (16)
Yuxing Wang
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
Junjie Wen
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
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
Lulu Fu
Department of Chemistry, School of Science
Zuhao You
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
Haotian Li
Guoxin Han
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
Wentian Han
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
Jincheng Liu
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Huixiang Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
Yisui Feng
Hui Li
Wenxu Liu
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry
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
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
Yao Liu