A Facile Low Prevacuum Treatment to Enhance the Durability of Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells

Herein, a straightforward vacuum-assisted method is introduced to enhance the stability of nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs). The method, termed “prevacuum” involves subjecting the active layer (D18:Y6) to a low-pressure vacuum (−1 bar) before thermal annealing at 100 °C. Compared to untreated devices, prevacuum-treated OSCs exhibit a notable increase in power conversion efficiency from 13.71% to 14.90%. This enhancement is attributed to improved light absorption and charge extraction, as evidenced by external quantum efficiency measurements. Moreover, prevacuum treatment significantly improves device stability under operational conditions, with a 30% power loss occurring after 8.25 h compared to 4.5 h for untreated devices. This improvement is attributed to the removal of volatile components and impurities during the vacuum process, leading to a more hydrophobic and stable active layer. The study demonstrates the efficacy of prevacuum treatment as a simple and accessible method for enhancing the performance and longevity of OSCs, paving the way for their broader application in sustainable energy technologies.