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Interfacial Potential Compensation for HOMO Alignment in Ternary Organic Solar Cells
Zhen Gao1, Weidong Li1, Heng Liu2
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 10, 2026
Summary
High-performance ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) require understanding hidden interfacial potential shifts. Synchronized potential compensation in alloyed donor morphologies unlocks efficient charge generation and maximized photovoltaic gaps.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Conventional ternary organic solar cell (OSC) design rules often rely on simplified energy-level alignment (ELA) models.
- These models frequently neglect crucial interfacial potential shifts, hindering a complete understanding of device performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of interfacial potential shifts and alloy donor morphology in ternary OSCs.
- To reveal the underlying mechanisms for achieving high-performance in multi-component organic solar cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the monolayer-by-monolayer Langmuir-Schaefer method for precise film deposition.
- Employed photoelectron spectroscopy to directly characterize ELA at donor-acceptor interfaces within ternary blends.
Main Results:
- Identified synchronized contact-induced potential steps at donor-acceptor interfaces in dual-donor ternary blends.
- Demonstrated that these potential steps compensate for intrinsic HOMO offsets, creating a unified HOMO-level landscape.
- Showcased how alloy donor morphology and potential compensation enable efficient charge generation and maximize the photovoltaic gap.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial potential shifts and alloyed donor morphology are critical for high-performance ternary OSCs.
- A unified HOMO-level landscape achieved through potential compensation is key to efficient charge generation and maximized photovoltaic performance.
- This framework provides a pathway for rational engineering of complex multi-component organic solar cells.
Keywords:
HOMO alignmentenergy level alignmentinterfacial potential compensationmaximized photovoltaic gapminimized HOMO offsetternary organic solar cellMore Related Videos
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