journal article·2025Open access

Interconnected donor–acceptor-additive effects on the microstructure and device performance of PM6 : Y6 solar cells

Edgar Gutiérrez-Fernández, Albert Harillo-Baños, Eduardo Solano, Oier Bikondoa, Junkal Gutierrez, Agnieszka Tercjak, Mariano Campoy-Quiles, Sergi Riera-Galindo, Jaime Martín

Journal of Materials Chemistry C· Volume 13· Issue 45

Abstract

The microstructure of the donor and acceptor materials within a bulk heterojunction is critical to the performance of organic solar cells, significantly influencing charge generation, transport, and overall efficiency and stability. Here, we studied the role of the donor : acceptor ratio and the use of additives on the resulting microstructure in films and devices based on PM6 : Y6. A detailed study of the resulting structures, mainly by X-ray scattering, indicates that the molecular arrangement leading to higher efficiencies is correlated with the presence of a single, well-mixed phase. In this phase, the diffusion of the Y6 molecules is constrained within the PM6 matrix. Interestingly, this microstructure can be achieved either by tuning the composition or by incorporating a solvent additive. Consequently, either approach can be employed to enhance photovoltaic performance.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics · Conducting polymers and applications · Perovskite Materials and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

XMaS, The UK CRG Beamline, Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

POLYMAT and Polymer Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Manuel de Lardizabal 3, Donostia San Sebastián, 20018, Spain

Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona ICMAB-CSIC, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain

NCD-SWEET beamline, ALBA Synchrotron Light Source, Carrer de la Llum 2-26, 08290 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain

Group ‘Materials + Technologies’, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

Oportunius Program, Axencia Galega de Innovacion (GAIN), Xunta de Galicia, Galicia, Spain

Universidade da Coruña, Campus Industrial de Ferrol, CITENI, Campus de Esteiro S/N 15403, Ferrol, Spain

Funding

European Research Council · Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades · H2020 Future and Emerging Technologies · H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions

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