Sonication-induced J-aggregation in nonhalogenated solvents boosts exciton delocalization for high-efficiency organic solar cells

Mingxu Zhou, Xinyue Xu, Dongrui Wang, Jiali Song, Jiawei Qiao, Ruyue Zhang, Yue Wu, Tong Wang, Jiwei Cui, Christopher R. Hall, Hang Yin, Xiaoyan Du, Wei Qin, Kun Gao, Feng Chen, Zhixiang Wei, Muthupandian Ashokkumar, Trevor A. Smith, Kangning Zhang (), Yanming Sun () and Xiaotao Hao ()
Additional contact information
Mingxu Zhou: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Xinyue Xu: Parkville, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne
Dongrui Wang: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Jiali Song: Beihang University, School of Chemistry
Jiawei Qiao: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Ruyue Zhang: Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Yue Wu: Nanjing Agricultural University, College of Food Science and Technology
Tong Wang: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication
Jiwei Cui: Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Christopher R. Hall: Parkville, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne
Hang Yin: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Xiaoyan Du: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Wei Qin: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Kun Gao: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Feng Chen: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Zhixiang Wei: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication
Muthupandian Ashokkumar: Parkville, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne
Trevor A. Smith: Parkville, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne
Kangning Zhang: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
Yanming Sun: Beihang University, School of Chemistry
Xiaotao Hao: Shandong University, School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs) requires eliminating halogenated solvents. However, the disordered molecular aggregation of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) in nonhalogenated solvents hinders achieving high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Herein, this problem is addressed using an external physical field modulation strategy involving the sonication of NFA solutions to induce a transformation from disordered molecular aggregation to ordered J-aggregation via microstreaming and shear stress. The aggregation is effectively preserved within films, enhancing π-π stacking interactions. Moreover, sonication promotes the conversion of localized excitons to intra-moiety delocalized excitons and suppresses molecular vibrations. The PCEs of PM6:L8-BO-based binary and ternary devices fabricated using o-xylene are 19.43% and 20.41% (certified 19.84%), ranking among the highest values reported for nonhalogenated solvent-processed OSCs. The binary devices also exhibit high thermal stabilities (T80 lifetime > 10000 h). This universally applicable strategy effectively controls disordered aggregation in NFA solutions, thus paving the way for practical industrial applications.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65447-y

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