Double Asymmetric Core Optimizes Crystal Packing to Enable Selenophene-based Acceptor with Over 18 % Efficiency in Binary Organic Solar Cells

Xin Zhao, Qiaoshi An, Heng Zhang, Can Yang, Asif Mahmood, Mengyun Jiang, Min Hun Jee, Bin Fu, Shiyu Tian, Han Young Woo, Yapei Wang, Jin Liang Wang

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    73 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Side-chain tailoring is a promising method to optimize the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, asymmetric alkyl chain-based small molecular acceptors (SMAs) are still difficult to afford. Herein, we adopted a novel asymmetric n-nonyl/undecyl substitution strategy and synthesized two A-D1A′D2-A double asymmetric isomeric SMAs with asymmetric selenophene-based central core for OSCs. Crystallographic analysis indicates that AYT9Se11-Cl forms a more compact and order intermolecular packing compared to AYT11Se9-Cl, which contributed to higher electron mobility in neat AYT9Se11-Cl film. Moreover, the PM6 : AYT9Se11-Cl blend film shows a better morphology with appropriate phase separation and distinct face-on orientation than PM6 : AYT11Se9-Cl. The OSCs with PM6 : AYT9Se11-Cl obtain a superior PCE of 18.12 % compared to PM6 : AYT11Se9-Cl (17.52 %), which is the best efficiency for the selenium-incorporated SMAs in binary BHJ OSCs. Our findings elucidate that the promising double asymmetric strategy with isomeric alkyl chains precisely modulates the crystal packing and enhances the photovoltaic efficiency of selenophene-incorporated SMAs.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere202216340
    JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
    Volume62
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2023 Mar 1

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

    Keywords

    • Asymmetric Strategy
    • Organic Solar Cells
    • Selenophene Substitution
    • Single Crystal Analysis
    • Small Molecular Acceptor

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Catalysis
    • General Chemistry

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