journal article·2025-10Open access

Tandem Organic Solar Cells with 21.5% Efficiency

Jianqiu Wang, Jiayao Li, Yafei Wang, Junzhen Ren, Pengqing Bi, Huixue Li, Jiangbo Dai, Shaoqing Zhang, Jianhui Hou

Advanced Materials· Volume 37· Issue 43

Abstract

Abstract Tandem organic solar cells (OSCs) offer a promising strategy for enhancing light utilization and reducing energy loss, presenting significant potential in achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE). Herein, a narrow bandgap acceptor, BTA‐4F, featuring a 2‐methyl‐2H‐benzotriazole (BTA) central core, is fabricated, which is designed for the rear sub‐cell of tandem OSCs. Systematic characterizations demonstrate that incorporating strong electron donating groups BTA into central core unit can narrow the bandgap and enhance the electroluminescence external quantum efficiency. These improvements lead to increased current density and reduced voltage loss of single junction OSCs under AM 1.5G illumination and real incident light of the rear sub‐cell. Inspiringly, BTA‐4F‐based single‐junction and tandem OSCs achieve outstanding PCEs of 19.5% and 21.5% (Certified as 21.2%), respectively, which represents the milestone of 21% PCE in the field of OSCs. This study highlights the synergistic benefits of molecular design and implementation of tandem architecture as an effective strategy for enhancing photovoltaic performance of OSCs.
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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

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China

Petrochemical Research Institute PetroChina Company Limited Beijing 102206 China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China

School of Chemistry and Biology Engineering University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

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