Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A-DA′D-A non-fullerene acceptors for high-performance organic solar cells

  • Reviews
  • Published:
Science China Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since the world-record power conversion efficiency of 15.7% was achieved for organic solar cells (OSCs) in 2019, the newly developed non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) Y6 with an A-DA′D-A structure (A denotes an electron-accepting moiety, D denotes an electron-donating moiety) has attracted increasing attention. Subsequently, many new A-DA′D-A NFAs have been designed and synthesized, and the A-DA′D-A NFAs have played a significant role in the development of high-performance non-fullerene organic solar cells (NF-OSCs). Compared with the classical A-D-A-type acceptors, A-DA′D-A NFAs contain an electron-deficient core (such as benzothiadiazole (BT), benzotriazole (BTA), quinoxaline (Qx), or their derivatives) in the ladder-type fused rings to fine-tune the energy levels, broaden light absorption and achieve higher electron mobility of the NFAs. This review emphasizes the recent progress on these emerging A-DA′D-A (including Y-series) NFAs. The synthetic methods of DA′D-fused rings are introduced. The relationships between the chemical structure of the A-DA′D-A NFAs and the photovoltaic performance of the corresponding OSCs are summarized and discussed. Finally, issues and prospects for further improving photovoltaic performance of the OSCs are also proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yu G, Gao J, Hummelen JC, Wudl F, Heeger AJ. Science, 1995, 270: 1789–1791

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang Z, Yuan J, Wei Q, Zou Y. Front Chem, 2018, 6: 414

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Li G, Zhu R, Yang Y. Nat Photon, 2012, 6: 153–161

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Li C, Liu M, Pschirer NG, Baumgarten M, Mullen K. Chem Rev, 2010, 110: 6817–6855

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Li Y, Zou Y. Adv Mater, 2008, 20: 2952–2958

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu W, Zhang J, Xu S, Zhu X. Sci Bull, 2019, 64: 1144–1147

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chen S, Tsang SW, Lai TH, Reynolds JR, So F. Adv Mater, 2014, 26: 6125–6131

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lu L, Zheng T, Wu Q, Schneider AM, Zhao D, Yu L. Chem Rev, 2015, 115: 12666–12731

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart, NREL. http://www.nrel.gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html

  10. Meng L, Zhang Y, Wan X, Li C, Zhang X, Wang Y, Ke X, Xiao Z, Ding L, Xia R, Yip HL, Cao Y, Chen Y. Science, 2018, 361: 1094–1098

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Li CZ, Yip HL, Jen AKY. J Mater Chem, 2012, 22: 4161–4177

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xiao Z, Ye G, Liu Y, Chen S, Peng Q, Zuo Q, Ding L. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2012, 51: 9038–9041

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lin Y, Wang J, Zhang ZG, Bai H, Li Y, Zhu D, Zhan X. Adv Mater, 2015, 27: 1170–1174

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jia B, Wang J, Wu Y, Zhang M, Jiang Y, Tang Z, Russell TP, Zhan X. J Am Chem Soc, 2019, 141: 19023–19031

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Li S, Ye L, Zhao W, Yan H, Yang B, Liu D, Li W, Ade H, Hou J. J Am Chem Soc, 2018, 140: 7159–7167

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Yuan J, Zhang Y, Zhou L, Zhang G, Yip HL, Lau TK, Lu X, Zhu C, Peng H, Johnson PA, Leclerc M, Cao Y, Ulanski J, Li Y, Zou Y. Joule, 2019, 3: 1140–1151

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang M, Guo X, Ma W, Ade H, Hou J. Adv Mater, 2015, 27: 4655–4660

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Li P, Wang Z, Song C, Zhang H. J Mater Chem C, 2017, 5: 11454–11465

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhang Y, Zou J, Yip HL, Sun Y, Davies JA, Chen KS, Acton O, Jen AKY. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 3895–3902

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Dyer-Smith C, Howard IA, Cabanetos C, El Labban A, Beaujuge PM, Laquai F. Adv Energy Mater, 2015, 5: 1401778

    Google Scholar 

  21. Liu S, Yuan J, Deng W, Luo M, Xie Y, Liang Q, Zou Y, He Z, Wu H, Cao Y. Nat Photon, 2020, 14: 300–305

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Feng L, Yuan J, Zhang Z, Peng H, Zhang ZG, Xu S, Liu Y, Li Y, Zou Y. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2017, 9: 31985–31992

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Xu S, Feng L, Yuan J, Zhang ZG, Li Y, Peng H, Zou Y. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2017, 9: 18816–18825

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yuan J, Huang T, Cheng P, Zou Y, Zhang H, Yang JL, Chang SY, Zhang Z, Huang W, Wang R, Meng D, Gao F, Yang Y. Nat Commun, 2019, 10: 570

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhou H, Yang L, You W. Macromolecules, 2012, 45: 607–632

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Li S, Li CZ, Shi M, Chen H. ACS Energy Lett, 2020, 5: 1554–1567

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhou Z, Liu W, Zhou G, Zhang M, Qian D, Zhang J, Chen S, Xu S, Yang C, Gao F, Zhu H, Liu F, Zhu X. Adv Mater, 2019, 32: 1906324

    Google Scholar 

  28. Luo M, Zhou L, Yuan J, Zhu C, Cai F, Hai J, Zou Y. J Energy Chem, 2020, 42: 169–173

    Google Scholar 

  29. Yuan J, Zhang Y, Zhou L, Zhang C, Lau T-, Zhang G, Lu X, Yip H-, So SK, Beaupré S, Mainville M, Johnson PA, Leclerc M, Chen H, Peng H, Li Y, Zou Y. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1807577

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wang R, Yuan J, Wang R, Han G, Huang T, Huang W, Xue J, Wang H, Zhang C, Zhu C, Cheng P, Meng D, Yi Y, Wei K, Zou Y, Yang Y. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1904215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Luo M, Zhu C, Yuan J, Zhou L, Keshtov ML, Godovsky DY, Zou Y. Chin Chem Lett, 2019, 30: 2343–2346

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Cui Y, Yao H, Zhang J, Zhang T, Wang Y, Hong L, Xian K, Xu B, Zhang S, Peng J, Wei Z, Gao F, Hou J. Nat Commun, 2019, 10: 2515

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Jiang K, Wei Q, Lai JYL, Peng Z, Kim HK, Yuan J, Ye L, Ade H, Zou Y, Yan H. Joule, 2019, 3: 3020–3033

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Luo Z, Sun R, Zhong C, Liu T, Zhang G, Zou Y, Jiao X, Min J, Yang C. Sci China Chem, 2020, 63: 361–369

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Hong L, Yao H, Wu Z, Cui Y, Zhang T, Xu Y, Yu R, Liao Q, Gao B, Xian K, Woo HY, Ge Z, Hou J. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1903441

    Google Scholar 

  36. Cui Y, Yao H, Hong L, Zhang T, Tang Y, Lin B, Xian K, Gao B, An C, Bi P, Ma W, Hou J. Natl Sci Rev, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwz200

  37. Mo D, Chen H, Zhou J, Tang N, Han L, Zhu Y, Chao P, Lai H, Xie Z, He F. J Mater Chem A, 2020, 8: 8903–8912

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Yuan J, Zhang C, Chen H, Zhu C, Cheung SH, Qiu B, Cai F, Wei Q, Liu W, Yin H, Zhang R, Zhang J, Liu Y, Zhang H, Liu W, Peng H, Yang J, Meng L, Gao F, So S, Li Y, Zou Y. Sci China Chem, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-020-9747-9

  39. Zou Y, Zhu C, Yuan J, Cai F, Meng L, Zhang H, Chen H, Li J, Qiu B, Peng H, Chen S, Hu Y, Yang C, Gao F, Li Y. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE00862A

  40. Cui Y, Yao H, Zhang J, Xian K, Zhang T, Hong L, Wang Y, Xu Y, Ma K, An C, He C, Wei Z, Gao F, Hou J. Adv Mater, 2020, 32: 1908205

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Gao W, Zhang M, Liu T, Ming R, An Q, Wu K, Xie D, Luo Z, Zhong C, Liu F, Zhang F, Yan H, Yang C. Adv Mater, 2018, 30: 1800052

    Google Scholar 

  42. Cai F, Zhu C, Yuan J, Li Z, Meng L, Liu W, Peng H, Jiang L, Li Y, Zou Y. Chem Commun, 2020, 56: 4340–4343

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Cai F, Peng H, Chen H, Yuan J, Hai J, Lau TK, Wang J, Hu Y, Liu W, Lu X, Zou Y. J Mater Chem A, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ta01636e

  44. Gao J, Gao W, Ma X, Hu Z, Xu C, Wang X, An Q, Yang C, Zhang X, Zhang F. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, 13: 958–967

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Zhang ZG, Yang Y, Yao J, Xue L, Chen S, Li X, Morrison W, Yang C, Li Y. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2017, 56: 13503–13507

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Jia T, Zhang J, Zhong W, Liang Y, Zhang K, Dong S, Ying L, Liu F, Wang X, Huang F, Cao Y. Nano Energy, 2020, 72: 104718

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Wang W, Wu Q, Sun R, Guo J, Wu Y, Shi M, Yang W, Li H, Min J. Joule, 2020, 4: 1070–1086

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Hu Z, Wang Z, An Q, Zhang F. Sci Bull, 2020, 65: 131–137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Song W, Fanady B, Peng R, Hong L, Wu L, Zhang W, Yan T, Wu T, Chen S, Ge Z. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10: 2000136

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Xie Y, Cai Y, Zhu L, Xia R, Ye L, Feng X, Yip H, Liu F, Lu G, Tan S, Sun Y. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 2002181

  51. Chen X, Xu G, Zeng G, Gu H, Chen H, Xu H, Yao H, Li Y, Hou J, Li Y. Adv Mater, 2020, 32: 1908478

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Zhu L, Zhang M, Zhou G, Hao T, Xu J, Wang J, Qiu C, Prine N, Ali J, Feng W, Gu X, Ma Z, Tang Z, Zhu H, Ying L, Zhang Y, Liu F. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10: 1904234

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Sun R, Wu Q, Guo J, Wang T, Wu Y, Qiu B, Luo Z, Yang W, Hu Z, Guo J, Shi M, Yang C, Huang F, Li Y, Min J. Joule, 2020, 4: 407–419

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Fan B, Zhang D, Li M, Zhong W, Zeng Z, Ying L, Huang F, Cao Y. Sci China Chem, 2019, 62: 746–752

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Ma R, Liu T, Luo Z, Guo Q, Xiao Y, Chen Y, Li X, Luo S, Lu X, Zhang M, Li Y, Yan H. Sci China Chem, 2020, 63: 325–330

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Sun H, Liu T, Yu J, Lau TK, Zhang G, Zhang Y, Su M, Tang Y, Ma R, Liu B, Liang J, Feng K, Lu X, Guo X, Gao F, Yan H. Energy Environ Sci, 2019, 12: 3328–3337

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Chao P, Chen H, Zhu Y, Lai H, Mo D, Zheng N, Chang X, Meng H, He F. Adv Mater, 2020, 32: 1907059

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Sun C, Pan F, Chen S, Wang R, Sun R, Shang Z, Qiu B, Min J, Lv M, Meng L, Zhang C, Xiao M, Yang C, Li Y. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1905480

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Wu Y, Zheng Y, Yang H, Sun C, Dong Y, Cui C, Yan H, Li Y. Sci China Chem, 2020, 63: 265–271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Sun C, Qin S, Wang R, Chen S, Pan F, Qiu B, Shang Z, Meng L, Zhang C, Xiao M, Yang C, Li Y. J Am Chem Soc, 2020, 142: 1465–1474

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Xu X, Feng K, Bi Z, Ma W, Zhang G, Peng Q. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1901872

    Google Scholar 

  62. Wang T, Sun R, Shi M, Pan F, Hu Z, Huang F, Li Y, Min J. Adv Energy Mater, 2020, 10: 2000590

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Xiong J, Jin K, Jiang Y, Qin J, Wang T, Liu J, Liu Q, Peng H, Li X, Sun A, Meng X, Zhang L, Liu L, Li W, Fang Z, Jia X, Xiao Z, Feng Y, Zhang X, Sun K, Yang S, Shi S, Ding L. Sci Bull, 2019, 64: 1573–1576

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Liu Q, Jiang Y, Jin K, Qin J, Xu J, Li W, Xiong J, Liu J, Xiao Z, Sun K, Yang S, Zhang X, Ding L. Sci Bull, 2020, 65: 272–275

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Dong X, Yang K, Tang H, Hu D, Chen S, Zhang J, Kan Z, Duan T, Hu C, Dai X, Xiao Z, Sun K, Lu S. Sol RRL, 2019, 4: 1900326

    Google Scholar 

  66. Chen H, Hu D, Yang Q, Gao J, Fu J, Yang K, He H, Chen S, Kan Z, Duan T, Yang C, Ouyang J, Xiao Z, Sun K, Lu S. Joule, 2019, 3: 3034–3047

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Ge J, Xie L, Peng R, Fanady B, Huang J, Song W, Yan T, Zhang W, Ge Z. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2020, 59: 2808–2815

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Qiu B, Chen Z, Qin S, Yao J, Huang W, Meng L, Zhu H, Yang YM, Zhang Z, Li Y. Adv Mater, 2020, 32: 1908373

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Yue Q, Wu H, Zhou Z, Zhang M, Liu F, Zhu X. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1904283

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Zhou R, Jiang Z, Yang C, Yu J, Feng J, Adil MA, Deng D, Zou W, Zhang J, Lu K, Ma W, Gao F, Wei Z. Nat Commun, 2019, 10: 5393

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Qin J, An C, Zhang J, Ma K, Yang Y, Zhang T, Li S, Xian K, Cui Y, Tang Y, Ma W, Yao H, Zhang S, Xu B, He C, Hou J. Sci China Mater, 2020, 63: 1142–1150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Yu R, Yao H, Cui Y, Hong L, He C, Hou J. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1902302

    Google Scholar 

  73. Pan MA, Lau TK, Tang Y, Wu YC, Liu T, Li K, Chen MC, Lu X, Ma W, Zhan C. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7: 20713–20722

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Gao J, Wang J, An Q, Ma X, Hu Z, Xu C, Zhang X, Zhang F. Sci China Chem, 2019, 63: 83–91

    Google Scholar 

  75. Yan T, Song W, Huang J, Peng R, Huang L, Ge Z. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1902210

    Google Scholar 

  76. Ma X, Luo M, Gao W, Yuan J, An Q, Zhang M, Hu Z, Gao J, Wang J, Zou Y, Yang C, Zhang F. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7: 7843–7851

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. An Q, Ma X, Gao J, Zhang F. Sci Bull, 2019, 64: 504–506

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. An Q, Wang J, Gao W, Ma X, Hu Z, Gao J, Xu C, Hao M, Zhang X, Yang C, Zhang F. Sci Bull, 2020, 65: 538–545

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Zhang J, Zhang Y, Fang J, Lu K, Wang Z, Ma W, Wei Z. J Am Chem Soc, 2015, 137: 8176–8183

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Zhan L, Li S, Lau TK, Cui Y, Lu X, Shi M, Li CZ, Li H, Hou J, Chen H. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, 13: 635–645

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Su D, Pan MA, Liu Z, Lau TK, Li X, Shen F, Huo S, Lu X, Xu A, Yan H, Zhan C. Chem Mater, 2019, 31: 8908–8917

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Ren M, Zhang G, Chen Z, Xiao J, Jiao X, Zou Y, Yip HL, Cao Y. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2020, 12: 13077–13086

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Du X, Zhao J, Zhang H, Lu X, Zhou L, Chen Z, Lin H, Zheng C, Tao S. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7: 20139–20150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  84. Song J, Li C, Zhu L, Guo J, Xu J, Zhang X, Weng K, Zhang K, Min J, Hao X, Zhang Y, Liu F, Sun Y. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1905645

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Li K, Wu Y, Tang Y, Pan M, Ma W, Fu H, Zhan C, Yao J. Adv Energy Mater, 2019, 9: 1901728

    Google Scholar 

  86. Ma Y, Zhou X, Cai D, Tu Q, Ma W, Zheng Q. Mater Horiz, 2020, 7: 117–124

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Du X, Yuan Y, Zhou L, Lin H, Zheng C, Luo J, Chen Z, Tao S, Liao L. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 30: 1909837

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Xie G, Zhang Z, Su Z, Zhang X, Zhang J. Nano Energy, 2020, 69: 104447

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Yan T, Ge J, Lei T, Zhang W, Song W, Fanady B, Zhang D, Chen S, Peng R, Ge Z. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7: 25894–25899

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Xu X, Feng K, Lee YW, Woo HY, Zhang G, Peng Q. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 30: 1907570

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Zhang Y, Cai F, Yuan J, Wei Q, Zhou L, Qiu B, Hu Y, Li Y, Peng H, Zou Y. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2019, 21: 26557–26563

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Liu Y, Cheng P, Yuan J, Huang T, Wang R, Meng D, Ndefru B, Zou Y, Sun B, Yang Y. ACS Energy Lett, 2019, 4: 1535–1540

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. Liu B, Wang Y, Chen P, Zhang X, Sun H, Tang Y, Liao Q, Huang J, Wang H, Meng H, Guo X. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2019, 11: 33505–33514

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  94. Lin Y, Adilbekova B, Firdaus Y, Yengel E, Faber H, Sajjad M, Zheng X, Yarali E, Seitkhan A, Bakr OM, El-Labban A, Schwingenschlögl U, Tung V, McCulloch I, Laquai F, Anthopoulos TD. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1902965

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Lin Y, Firdaus Y, Nugraha MI, Liu F, Karuthedath S, Emwas A-, Zhang W, Seitkhan A, Neophytou M, Faber H, Yengel E, McCulloch I, Tsetseris L, Laquai F, Anthopoulos TD. Adv Sci, 2020, 7: 1903419

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  96. Pan F, Sun C, Li Y, Tang D, Zou Y, Li X, Bai S, Wei X, Lv M, Chen X, Li Y. Energy Environ Sci, 2019, 12: 3400–3411

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Yang Q, Yu S, Fu P, Yu W, Liu Y, Liu X, Feng Z, Guo X, Li C. Adv Funct Mater, 2020, 30: 1910205

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21875286), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFA0206600), the Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hunan Province (2017JJ1029) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Qingya Wei, Wei Liu, Jun Yuan, Honggang Chen & Yingping Zou

  2. Department of Chemistry, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Mario Leclerc

Authors
  1. Qingya Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mario Leclerc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jun Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Honggang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yingping Zou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yingping Zou.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wei, Q., Liu, W., Leclerc, M. et al. A-DA′D-A non-fullerene acceptors for high-performance organic solar cells. Sci. China Chem. 63, 1352–1366 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-020-9799-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-020-9799-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation