Lead-free Perovskite Materials (NH4)3Sb2IxBr9−x

A family of perovskite light absorbers (NH₄)₃Sb₂I_xBr_9−x (0≤x≤9) was prepared. These materials show good solubility in ethanol, a low-cost, hypotoxic, and environmentally friendly solvent. The light absorption of (NH₄)₃Sb₂I_xBr_9−x films can be tuned by adjusting I and Br content. The absorption onset for (NH₄)₃Sb₂I_xBr_9−x films changes from 558 nm to 453 nm as x changes from 9 to 0. (NH₄)₃Sb₂I₉ single crystals were prepared, exhibiting a hole mobility of 4.8 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and an electron mobility of 12.3 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. (NH₄)₃Sb₂I₉ solar cells gave an open-circuit voltage of 1.03 V and a power conversion efficiency of 0.51 %.     

A Fused‐Ring Acceptor Unit in D–A Copolymers Benefits Photovoltaic Performance

Pentacyclic lactam acceptor unit TPTI invented by our group is proved to be a good building block for efficient D‐A copolymers used in organic solar cells. Here, two D‐A copolymers PBTTPTI and PTTTPTI are developed by copolymerizing TPTI with 2,2′‐bithiophene (BT) or thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (TT). PBTTPTI and PTTTPTI exhibit good solubility and strong interchain π–π interaction even in dilute solution. They possess deep HOMO levels (ca. ‐5.3 eV), partial crystallinity, and good hole mobilities. Blending with PC₇₁BM, PBTTPTI and PTTTPTI give decent power conversion efficiencies (PCE) up to 6.83% and 5.86%, with outstanding fill factors (FF) of 74.3% and 71.3%, respectively.

     

Progress of the key materials for organic solar cells

Organic solar cells have attracted academic and industrial interests due to the advantages like lightweight, flexibility and roll-to-roll fabrication. Nowadays, 18% power conversion efficiency has been achieved in the state-of-the-art organic solar cells. The recent rapid progress in organic solar cells relies on the continuously emerging new materials and device fabrication technologies, and the deep understanding on film morphology, molecular packing and device physics. Donor and acceptor materials are the key materials for organic solar cells since they determine the device performance. The past 25 years have witnessed an odyssey in developing high-performance donors and acceptors. In this review, we focus on those star materials and milestone work, and introduce the molecular structure evolution of key materials. These key materials include homopolymer donors, D-A copolymer donors, A-D-A small molecular donors, fullerene acceptors and nonfullerene acceptors. At last, we outlook the challenges and very important directions in key materials development.