“Steric‐Locking” Polymer Acceptor Enabled 20.53% Efficiency With Suppressed Energetic Disorder and Enhanced Mechanical Robustness in Green‐Solvent Processed All‐Polymer Solar Cells

Y Yanna Sun H Huanhuan Gao Y Yuanyuan Kan (Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Science of Material Creation and Energy Conversion Science Center for Material Creation and Energy Conversion Institute of Frontier Chemistry School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Qingdao China) L Lingya Sun (Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Science of Material Creation and Energy Conversion Science Center for Material Creation and Energy Conversion Institute of Frontier Chemistry School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Qingdao China) X Xiao Ma (State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing) L Lei Wang T Tengxiang Gao (School of Physics and Materials Science Guangzhou University Guangzhou China) C Chuangcheng Hong (School of Physics and Materials Science Guangzhou University Guang‐zhou 510006 P.R. China) J Jianan Zheng X Xunchang Wang (Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices (Ministry of Education) School of Optoelectronic Materials & Technology Jianghan University Wuhan China) W Wei Zhang G Guangye Zhang Y Yiyu Feng (School of Materials Science and Engineering Shandong Key Laboratory of Functional‐Structural Integrated Ceramics Discipline and Technology Center for High Temperature Functional Ceramics Shandong University of Technology Zibo China) R Renqiang Yang K Ke Gao (State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, and NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The realization of high‐performance organic photovoltaics via environmentally benign manufacturing is pivotal for sustainable energy. While all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) offer superior stability and mechanical resilience, achieving high efficiencies in nonhalogenated green solvents remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report a “steric‐locking” strategy for polymer acceptor design that enables a record‐breaking power conversion efficiency of 20.53% (certified 19.79%) in o ‐xylene‐processed all‐PSCs. The introduction of a steric‐locking guest polymer acceptor (PY‐IDT) into the PM6:PYF‐T‐o host matrix profoundly regulates the crystallization kinetics and suppresses the excessive self‐aggregation of the host acceptor. This molecular‐level structural refinement significantly reduces energetic disorder and minimizes non‐radiative voltage loss. Consequently, the suppressed energetic disorder and refined nanostructured domains yielded a concurrent leap in open‐circuit voltage (0.942 V) and fill factor (82.11%). Furthermore, the steric‐locked morphology demonstrates exceptional mechanical robustness, maintaining 92.6% of its initial efficiency after 1000 bending cycles. This work establishes a new efficiency benchmark and provides a universal chemical framework for developing high‐performance, sustainable, and flexible optoelectronics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 46
Published August 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

Y

Yanna Sun

H

Huanhuan Gao

Y

Yuanyuan Kan

Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Science of Material Creation and Energy Conversion Science Center for Material Creation and Energy Conversion Institute of Frontier Chemistry School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Qingdao China

L

Lingya Sun

Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Science of Material Creation and Energy Conversion Science Center for Material Creation and Energy Conversion Institute of Frontier Chemistry School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Qingdao China

X

Xiao Ma

State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing

L

Lei Wang

T

Tengxiang Gao

School of Physics and Materials Science Guangzhou University Guangzhou China

C

Chuangcheng Hong

School of Physics and Materials Science Guangzhou University Guang‐zhou 510006 P.R. China

J

Jianan Zheng

X

Xunchang Wang

Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices (Ministry of Education) School of Optoelectronic Materials & Technology Jianghan University Wuhan China

W

Wei Zhang

G

Guangye Zhang

Y

Yiyu Feng

School of Materials Science and Engineering Shandong Key Laboratory of Functional‐Structural Integrated Ceramics Discipline and Technology Center for High Temperature Functional Ceramics Shandong University of Technology Zibo China

R

Renqiang Yang

K

Ke Gao

State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, and NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products