Constructing efficient organic solar cells by highly volatile solid additives with controlled phase morphology

Abstract

Optimizing the structure of organic solar cells (OSCs) is the key to improving their efficiency and stability. In this study, we introduce the use of highly volatile and low-cost solid additives, namely 2-phenylthiophene (PT) and 2-(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)thiophene (TFT), to modulate the morphology optimization and enhance the efficiency of OSCs. The inclusion of PT and TFT effectively influences the aggregation behavior of D18:L8-BO during the film-forming process, increase the time of acceptor molecules, and promotes the formation of a well-organized fiber network structure. Consequently, PT and TFT-treated D18:L8-BO-based OSCs achieved power conversion efficiencies of 18.28% and 19.19%, respectively. This study provides a straightforward approach for achieving structural optimization and efficient photovoltaic performance of OCSs.