Equally high efficiencies of organic solar cells processed from different solvents reveal key factors for morphology control

Rui Zhang, Haiyang Chen, Tonghui Wang (), Libor Kobera, Lilin He, Yuting Huang, Junyuan Ding, Ben Zhang, Azzaya Khasbaatar, Sadisha Nanayakkara, Jialei Zheng, Weijie Chen, Ying Diao, Sabina Abbrent, Jiri Brus, Aidan H. Coffey, Chenhui Zhu, Heng Liu, Xinhui Lu, Qing Jiang, Veaceslav Coropceanu, Jean-Luc Brédas, Yongfang Li, Yaowen Li () and Feng Gao ()
Additional contact information
Rui Zhang: Linköping University
Haiyang Chen: Soochow University
Tonghui Wang: Jilin University
Libor Kobera: Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Lilin He: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Yuting Huang: Soochow University
Junyuan Ding: Soochow University
Ben Zhang: Soochow University
Azzaya Khasbaatar: University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign
Sadisha Nanayakkara: University of Arizona
Jialei Zheng: Soochow University
Weijie Chen: Soochow University
Ying Diao: University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign
Sabina Abbrent: Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Jiri Brus: Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Aidan H. Coffey: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chenhui Zhu: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Heng Liu: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Xinhui Lu: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Qing Jiang: Jilin University
Veaceslav Coropceanu: University of Arizona
Jean-Luc Brédas: University of Arizona
Yongfang Li: Soochow University
Yaowen Li: Soochow University
Feng Gao: Linköping University

Nature Energy, 2025, vol. 10, issue 1, 124-134

Abstract: Abstract The power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) is exceeding 20%, an advance in which morphology optimization has played a significant role. It is generally accepted that the processing solvent (or solvent mixture) can help optimize morphology, impacting the OSC efficiency. Here we develop OSCs that show strong tolerance to a range of processing solvents, with all devices delivering high power conversion efficiencies around 19%. By investigating the solution states, the film formation dynamics and the characteristics of the processed films both experimentally and computationally, we identify the key factors that control morphology, that is, the interactions between the side chains of the acceptor materials and the solvent as well as the interactions between the donor and acceptor materials. Our work provides new understanding on the long-standing question of morphology control and effective guides to design OSC materials towards practical applications, where green solvents are required for large-scale processing.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01678-5

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