From fullerene acceptors to non-fullerene acceptors: prospects and challenges in the stability of organic solar cells. Issue 41 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Speller, Emily M.; Clarke, Andrew J.; Luke, Joel; Lee, Harrison Ka Hin; Durrant, James R.; Li, Ning; Wang, Tao; Wong, Him Cheng; Kim, Ji-Seon; Tsoi, Wing Chung; Li, Zhe
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 41(2019)
• Page Start: 23361
• Page End: 23377
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ta05235f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : This review highlights the opportunities and challenges in stability of organic solar cells arising from the emergence of non-fullerene acceptors. Abstract : The recent emergence of non-fullerene small molecule acceptors has reinvigorated the field of organic solar cells, already resulting in significant breakthroughs in their power conversion efficiency and discovery of remarkable new science. The stability and degradation of this class of materials and devices, on the other hand, has to date received relatively less attention. Herein, we present a critical review into the fundamentally different degradation mechanisms of non-fullerene acceptors compared to fullerene acceptors, as well as the very different roles they play upon the charge carrier generation and recombination kinetics and the resulting solar cell stability. We highlight in particular the prospect of the emergence of non-fullerene acceptors in addressing several major degradation mechanisms related to the use of fullerene acceptors, in conjunction with a number of unique degradation mechanisms that only exist in non-fullerene acceptors, which would provide an important guideline for further developments toward achieving long-term stability of organic solar cells.