Side chain engineering on D18 polymers yields 18.74% power conversion efficiency

Xianyi Meng; Ke Jin; Zuo Xiao; Liming Ding

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/42/10/100501

J. Semicond. > 2021, Volume 42?>?Issue 10?> 100501

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Side chain engineering on D18 polymers yields 18.74% power conversion efficiency

Xianyi Meng^{1, 2}, Ke Jin¹, Zuo Xiao^1, and Liming Ding^{1, 2,}

+ Author Affiliations

1. Center for Excellence in Nanoscience (CAS), Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication (CAS), National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Author Bio:

Xianyi Meng got his BS from University of Jinan in 2018. Now he is a PhD student at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Liming Ding. Since November 2017, he has been working in Liming Ding Group at National Center for Nanoscience and Technology. His work focuses on organic solar cells.

Ke Jin got his MS from Wuhan Institute of Technology in 2019. Now he is a research assistant in Liming Ding Group at National Center for Nanoscience and Technology. His work focuses on organic solar cells.

Zuo Xiao got his BS and PhD from Peking University under the supervision of Prof. Liangbing Gan. He did postdoctoral research in Eiichi Nakamura Lab at the University of Tokyo. In March 2011, he joined Liming Ding Group at National Center for Nanoscience and Technology as an associate professor. In April 2020, he was promoted to be a full professor. His current research focuses on organic solar cells.

Liming Ding got his PhD from University of Science and Technology of China (was a joint student at Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS). He started his research on OSCs and PLEDs in Olle Ingan?s Lab in 1998. Later on, he worked at National Center for Polymer Research, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Argonne National Lab (USA). He joined Konarka as a Senior Scientist in 2008. In 2010, he joined National Center for Nanoscience and Technology as a full professor. His research focuses on innovative materials and devices. He is RSC Fellow, the nominator for Xplorer Prize, and the Associate Editors for Science Bulletin and Journal of Semiconductors.

Corresponding author: Zuo Xiao, xiaoz@nanoctr.cn; Liming Ding, ding@nanoctr.cn

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/10/100501

References

[1]	Liu Q, Jiang Y, Jin K, et al. 18% efficiency organic solar cells. Sci Bull, 2020, 65, 272 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.01.001
[2]	Qin J, Zhang L, Zuo C, et al. A chlorinated copolymer donor demonstrates a 18.13% power conversion efficiency. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010501 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010501
[3]	Jin K, Xiao Z, Ding L. 18.69% PCE from organic solar cells. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 060502 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/6/060502
[4]	Jin K, Xiao Z, Ding L. D18, an eximious solar polymer!. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010502 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010502
[5]	Xiong J, Jin K, Jiang Y, et al. Thiolactone copolymer donor gifts organic solar cells a 16.72% efficiency. Sci Bull, 2019, 64, 1573 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.10.002
[6]	Liu J, Liu L, Zuo C, et al. 5H-dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyran-5-one unit yields efficient wide-bandgap polymer donors. Sci Bull, 2019, 64, 1655 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.09.001
[7]	Xu Y, Cui Y, Yao H, et al. A new conjugated polymer that enables the integration of photovoltaic and light-emitting functions in one device. Adv Mater, 2021, 33, 2101090 doi: 10.1002/adma.202101090
[8]	Jiang Y, Jin K, Chen X, et al. Post-sulphuration enhances the performance of a lactone polymer donor. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 070501 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/7/070501
[9]	Tong Y, Xiao Z, Du X, et al. Progress of the key materials for organic solar cells. Sci China Chem, 2020, 63, 758 doi: 10.1007/s11426-020-9726-0
[10]	Sun C, Pan F, Bin H, et al. A low cost and high performance polymer donor material for polymer solar cells. Nat Commun, 2018, 9, 743 doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03207-x
[11]	Zhang M, Guo X, Ma W, et al. A large-bandgap conjugated polymer for versatile photovoltaic applications with high performance. Adv Mater, 2015, 27, 4655 doi: 10.1002/adma.201502110
[12]	Lan L, Chen Z, Hu Q, et al. High-performance polymer solar cells based on a wide-bandgap polymer containing pyrrolo[3,4-f]benzotriazole-5,7-dione with a power conversion efficiency of 8.63%. Adv Sci, 2016, 3, 1600032 doi: 10.1002/advs.201600032
[13]	Zhu C, Meng L, Zhang J, et al. A quinoxaline-based D-A copolymer donor achieving 17.62% efficiency of organic solar cells. Adv Mater, 2021, 33, 2100474 doi: 10.1002/adma.202100474
[14]	Lei T, Dou J, Pei J. Influence of alkyl chain branching positions on the hole mobilities of polymer thin-film transistors. Adv Mater, 2012, 24, 6457 doi: 10.1002/adma.201202689
[15]	Fan B, Du X, Liu F, et al. Fine-tuning of the chemical structure of photoactive materials for highly efficient organic photovoltaics. Nat Energy, 2018, 3, 1051 doi: 10.1038/s41560-018-0263-4
[16]	Back J Y, Yu H, Song I, et al. Investigation of structure-property relationships in diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymer semiconductors via side-chain engineering. Chem Mater, 2015, 27, 1732 doi: 10.1021/cm504545e
[17]	Barford W, Marcus M. Perspective: optical spectroscopy in π-conjugated polymers and how it can be used to determine multiscale polymer structures. J Chem Phys, 2017, 146, 130902 doi: 10.1063/1.4979495
[18]	Spano F C. Excitons in conjugated oligomer aggregates, films, and crystals. Annu Rev Phys Chem, 2006, 57, 217 doi: 10.1146/annurev.physchem.57.032905.104557
[19]	Jiang K, Wei Q, Lai J Y L, et al. Alkyl chain tuning of small molecule acceptors for efficient organic solar cells. Joule, 2019, 3, 3020 doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2019.09.010
[20]	Xiao Z, Jia X, Li D, et al. 26 mA cm^–2 J_sc from organic solar cells with a low-bandgap nonfullerene acceptor. Sci Bull, 2017, 62, 1494 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.10.017
[21]	Xiao Z, Jia X, Ding L. Ternary organic solar cells offer 14% power conversion efficiency. Sci Bull, 2017, 62, 1562 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.11.003

Fig. 1. (Color online) (a) Chemical structures. (b) J–V curves for D18-B:N3:PC₆₁BM and D18-Cl-B:N3:PC₆₁BM solar cells. (c) EQE spectra for D18-B:N3:PC₆₁BM and D18-Cl-B:N3:PC₆₁BM solar cells.

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Table 1. Performance data for D18-B:N3:PC₆₁BM (1 : 1.4 : 0.2) and D18-Cl-B:N3:PC₆₁BM (1 : 1.4 : 0.2) solar cells.

Donor	M_n (kDa)	PDI	V_oc (V)	J_sc (mA/cm²)	FF (%)	PCE (%)
D18-B_L	33.0	1.84	0.825	27.31	78.6	17.69 (17.52)^a
D18-B_M	47.2	1.89	0.823	28.50	79.0	18.53 (18.40)
D18-B_H	57.0	1.95	0.810	27.94	76.7	17.36 (17.18)
D18-Cl-B_L	38.1	1.98	0.832	27.68	77.6	17.87 (17.52)
D18-Cl-B_M	60.6	1.95	0.836	28.50	78.7	18.74 (18.52)
D18-Cl-B_H	68.6	2.06	0.821	27.45	77.2	17.39 (17.22)
^aData in parentheses stand for the average PCEs for 10 cells.

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[1]	Liu Q, Jiang Y, Jin K, et al. 18% efficiency organic solar cells. Sci Bull, 2020, 65, 272 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.01.001
[2]	Qin J, Zhang L, Zuo C, et al. A chlorinated copolymer donor demonstrates a 18.13% power conversion efficiency. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010501 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010501
[3]	Jin K, Xiao Z, Ding L. 18.69% PCE from organic solar cells. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 060502 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/6/060502
[4]	Jin K, Xiao Z, Ding L. D18, an eximious solar polymer!. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 010502 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/1/010502
[5]	Xiong J, Jin K, Jiang Y, et al. Thiolactone copolymer donor gifts organic solar cells a 16.72% efficiency. Sci Bull, 2019, 64, 1573 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.10.002
[6]	Liu J, Liu L, Zuo C, et al. 5H-dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyran-5-one unit yields efficient wide-bandgap polymer donors. Sci Bull, 2019, 64, 1655 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.09.001
[7]	Xu Y, Cui Y, Yao H, et al. A new conjugated polymer that enables the integration of photovoltaic and light-emitting functions in one device. Adv Mater, 2021, 33, 2101090 doi: 10.1002/adma.202101090
[8]	Jiang Y, Jin K, Chen X, et al. Post-sulphuration enhances the performance of a lactone polymer donor. J Semicond, 2021, 42, 070501 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/42/7/070501
[9]	Tong Y, Xiao Z, Du X, et al. Progress of the key materials for organic solar cells. Sci China Chem, 2020, 63, 758 doi: 10.1007/s11426-020-9726-0
[10]	Sun C, Pan F, Bin H, et al. A low cost and high performance polymer donor material for polymer solar cells. Nat Commun, 2018, 9, 743 doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03207-x
[11]	Zhang M, Guo X, Ma W, et al. A large-bandgap conjugated polymer for versatile photovoltaic applications with high performance. Adv Mater, 2015, 27, 4655 doi: 10.1002/adma.201502110
[12]	Lan L, Chen Z, Hu Q, et al. High-performance polymer solar cells based on a wide-bandgap polymer containing pyrrolo[3,4-f]benzotriazole-5,7-dione with a power conversion efficiency of 8.63%. Adv Sci, 2016, 3, 1600032 doi: 10.1002/advs.201600032
[13]	Zhu C, Meng L, Zhang J, et al. A quinoxaline-based D-A copolymer donor achieving 17.62% efficiency of organic solar cells. Adv Mater, 2021, 33, 2100474 doi: 10.1002/adma.202100474
[14]	Lei T, Dou J, Pei J. Influence of alkyl chain branching positions on the hole mobilities of polymer thin-film transistors. Adv Mater, 2012, 24, 6457 doi: 10.1002/adma.201202689
[15]	Fan B, Du X, Liu F, et al. Fine-tuning of the chemical structure of photoactive materials for highly efficient organic photovoltaics. Nat Energy, 2018, 3, 1051 doi: 10.1038/s41560-018-0263-4
[16]	Back J Y, Yu H, Song I, et al. Investigation of structure-property relationships in diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymer semiconductors via side-chain engineering. Chem Mater, 2015, 27, 1732 doi: 10.1021/cm504545e
[17]	Barford W, Marcus M. Perspective: optical spectroscopy in π-conjugated polymers and how it can be used to determine multiscale polymer structures. J Chem Phys, 2017, 146, 130902 doi: 10.1063/1.4979495
[18]	Spano F C. Excitons in conjugated oligomer aggregates, films, and crystals. Annu Rev Phys Chem, 2006, 57, 217 doi: 10.1146/annurev.physchem.57.032905.104557
[19]	Jiang K, Wei Q, Lai J Y L, et al. Alkyl chain tuning of small molecule acceptors for efficient organic solar cells. Joule, 2019, 3, 3020 doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2019.09.010
[20]	Xiao Z, Jia X, Li D, et al. 26 mA cm^–2 J_sc from organic solar cells with a low-bandgap nonfullerene acceptor. Sci Bull, 2017, 62, 1494 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.10.017
[21]	Xiao Z, Jia X, Ding L. Ternary organic solar cells offer 14% power conversion efficiency. Sci Bull, 2017, 62, 1562 doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.11.003