An Unprecedented Efficiency with Approaching 21% Enabled by Additive-Assisted Layer-by-Layer Processing in Organic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Photovoltaics

Background:

• Organic solar cells (OSCs) offer a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based photovoltaics due to their flexibility and low manufacturing costs.
• Achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE) in OSCs remains a significant challenge, often limited by charge recombination and inefficient light absorption.
• Developing stable and efficient active layer morphologies is crucial for advancing OSC technology.

Discussion:

• This study reports a record 20.8% PCE in OSCs by engineering an interpenetrating fibril network within the active layer.
• The bulk p-i-n structure and vertical segregation, achieved via additive-assisted layer-by-layer deposition, optimize charge transport and minimize recombination.
• The hierarchical gradient fibrillar morphology enhances exciton diffusion and light harvesting, contributing to the improved device performance.

Key Insights:

• A novel additive-assisted layer-by-layer deposition technique was employed to create a unique fibrillar network morphology.
• The optimized morphology effectively manages exciton diffusion and reduces charge recombination losses.
• Record power conversion efficiency of 20.8% was achieved, demonstrating significant progress in OSC performance.

Outlook:

• The demonstrated approach offers a viable strategy for developing next-generation high-efficiency organic solar cells.
• Further research into morphology control and optical management could lead to even higher PCEs.
• The potential for commercialization of OSCs is significantly boosted by this efficiency record and scalable fabrication method.