Abstract
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have drawn considerable attention in the last decade due to the great potential of light weight, flexibility, and low-cost solution processing. Particularly, Y-series non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) including small molecular acceptors (SMAs) and polymerized small molecular acceptors (PSMAs) have become research hot spots due to their excellent power conversion efficiency. Side chain engineering is crucial to adjust the solubility and crystallinity of NFAs, which will significantly affect the morphology of active layers and the efficiency of OSCs. However, the understanding of side chain engineering on NFAs is still limited and lacks a systematic review. This review aims to provide a brief summary of the recent developments in side chain engineering of NFAs, with a special focus on the design and application of Y-series SMAs and PSMAs for high-efficiency non-fullerene organic solar cells (NF-OSCs). In addition, the review also points out challenges and provides useful guidance regarding side chain regulation for Y-series NFAs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Yu G, Gao J, Hummelen JC, Wudl F, Heeger AJ. Science, 1995, 270: 1789–1791
Zhang G, Zhao J, Chow PCY, Jiang K, Zhang J, Zhu Z, Zhang J, Huang F, Yan H. Chem Rev, 2018, 118: 3447–3507
Wang G, Adil MA, Zhang J, Wei Z. Adv Mater, 2019, 31: 1805089
Huang F, Bo Z, Geng Y, Wang X, Wang L, Ma Y, Hou J, Hu W, Pei J, Dong H, Wang S, Li Z, Shuai Z, Li Y, Cao Y. Acta Polym Sin, 2019, 50: 988–1046
Cui Y, Xu Y, Yao H, Bi P, Hong L, Zhang J, Zu Y, Zhang T, Qin J, Ren J, Chen Z, He C, Hao X, Wei Z, Hou J. Adv Mater, 2021, 33: 2102420
Bi P, Zhang S, Chen Z, Xu Y, Cui Y, Zhang T, Ren J, Qin J, Hong L, Hao X, Hou J. Joule, 2021, 5: 2408–2419
Gao W, Qi F, Peng Z, Lin FR, Jiang K, Zhong C, Kaminsky W, Guan Z, Lee C, Marks TJ, Ade H, Jen AK. Adv Mater, 2022, 34: 2202089
Zhu L, Zhang M, Xu J, Li C, Yan J, Zhou G, Zhong W, Hao T, Song J, Xue X, Zhou Z, Zeng R, Zhu H, Chen CC, MacKenzie RCI, Zou Y, Nelson J, Zhang Y, Sun Y, Liu F. Nat Mater, 2022, 21: 656–663
Wei Y, Chen Z, Lu G, Yu N, Li C, Gao J, Gu X, Hao X, Lu G, Tang Z, Zhang J, Wei Z, Zhang X, Huang H. Adv Mater, 2022, 34: 2204718
Sun R, Wu Y, Yang X, Gao Y, Chen Z, Li K, Qiao J, Wang T, Guo J, Liu C, Hao X, Zhu H, Min J. Adv Mater, 2022, 34: 2110147
Li CZ, Yip HL, Jen AKY. J Mater Chem, 2012, 22: 4161–4177
Sariciftci NS, Braun D, Zhang C, Srdanov VI, Heeger AJ, Stucky G, Wudl F. Appl Phys Lett, 1993, 62: 585–587
Deng D, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhu L, Fang J, Xia B, Wang Z, Lu K, Ma W, Wei Z. Nat Commun, 2016, 7: 13740
Xiao Z, Ye G, Liu Y, Chen S, Peng Q, Zuo Q, Ding L. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2012, 51: 9038–9041
Zhang M, Bai Y, Sun C, Xue L, Wang H, Zhang ZG. Sci China Chem, 2022, 65: 462–485
Lin Y, Wang J, Zhang ZG, Bai H, Li Y, Zhu D, Zhan X. Adv Mater, 2015, 27: 1170–1174
Yan C, Barlow S, Wang Z, Yan H, Jen AKY, Marder SR, Zhan X. Nat Rev Mater, 2018, 3: 18003
Wang J, Xue P, Jiang Y, Huo Y, Zhan X. Nat Rev Chem, 2022, 6: 614–634
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
Murugan P, Hu T, Hu X, Chen Y. J Mater Chem A, 2022, 10: 17968–17987
Zhang Y, Ji Y, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Bai H, Du M, Wu H, Guo Q, Zhou E. Adv Funct Mater, 2022, 32: 2205115
Fan Q, Xiao Z, Wang E, Ding L. Sci Bull, 2021, 66: 1950–1953
Zhang Z, Li Y. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2021, 60: 4422–4433
Wang J, Cui Y, Xu Y, Xian K, Bi P, Chen Z, Zhou K, Ma L, Zhang T, Yang Y, Zu Y, Yao H, Hao X, Ye L, Hou J. Adv Mater, 2022, 34: 2205009
Bin H, Gao L, Zhang ZG, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Chen S, Xue L, Yang C, Xiao M, Li Y. Nat Commun, 2016, 7: 13651
Wu H. Sci China Chem, 2015, 58: 189
Luo Z, Sun C, Chen S, Zhang ZG, Wu K, Qiu B, Yang C, Li Y, Yang C. Adv Energy Mater, 2018, 8: 1800856
Feng S, Zhang C, Liu Y, Bi Z, Zhang Z, Xu X, Ma W, Bo Z. Adv Mater, 2017, 29: 1703527
Wei Q, Liu W, Leclerc M, Yuan J, Chen H, Zou Y. Sci China Chem, 2020, 63: 1352–1366
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
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, 7: 1239–1246
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
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
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
Li S, Zhan L, Jin Y, Zhou G, Lau T, Qin R, Shi M, Li C, Zhu H, Lu X, Zhang F, Chen H. Adv Mater, 2020, 32: 2001160
Han Y, Song W, Zhang J, Xie L, Xiao J, Li Y, Cao L, Song S, Zhou E, Ge Z. J Mater Chem A, 2020, 8: 22155–22162
Chen Y, Chen H, Guan H, Liu W, Li Z, Liu H, Li Y, Zou Y. Chin Chem Lett, 2021, 32: 229–233
Zhang X, Qin L, Liu X, Zhang C, Yu J, Xiao Z, Zheng N, Wang B, Wei Y, Xie Z, Wu Y, Wei Z, Wang K, Gao F, Ding L, Huang H. Sol RRL, 2021, 5: 2100522
Li Z, Zhu C, Yuan J, Zhou L, Liu W, Xia X, Hong J, Chen H, Wei Q, Lu X, Li Y, Zou Y. J Energy Chem, 2022, 65: 173–178
Abbas Z, Ryu SU, Haris M, Song CE, Lee HK, Lee SK, Shin WS, Park T, Lee JC. Nano Energy, 2022, 101: 107574
Zhou B, Wang L, Liu Y, Guo C, Li D, Cai J, Fu Y, Chen C, Liu D, Zhou Y, Li W, Wang T. Adv Funct Mater, 2022, 32: 2206042
Fu Y, Wang L, Guo C, Li D, Cai J, Zhou B, Chen C, Liu C, Liu D, Li W, Wang T. ACS Mater Lett, 2022, 4: 2009–2018
Qin H, Xia S, Sun D, Wu Z, Wang Y, Ran Y, Lu G, Woo HY, Zhao B, Gao C, Li Y. J Mater Chem C, 2022, 10: 16397–16406
Dong X, Jiang Y, Sun L, Qin F, Zhou X, Lu X, Wang W, Zhou Y. Adv Funct Mater, 2022, 32
Guo Y, Chen Z, Ge J, Zhang J, Xie L, Peng R, Ma W, Ge Z. Sci China Chem, 2023, 66: 500–507
Wei Q, Liang S, Liu W, Hu Y, Qiu B, Ren J, Yuan J, Huang F, Zou Y, Li Y. ACS Energy Lett, 2022, 7: 2373–2381
Kim G, Sun C, Lee D, Choi G, Park JS, Seo S, Lee S, Choi D, Kwon S, Cho S, Kim Y, Kim BJ. Adv Funct Mater, 2022, 32: 2201150
Zhang T, Chen H, Li C, Lu K, Zhang L, Shokrieh A, Zhang J, Lu G, Lei S, Wei Z. J Mater Chem A, 2022, 10: 8837–8845
Chen H, Zhang R, Chen X, Zeng G, Kobera L, Abbrent S, Zhang B, Chen W, Xu G, Oh J, Kang SH, Chen S, Yang C, Brus J, Hou J, Gao F, Li Y, Li Y. Nat Energy, 2021, 6: 1045–1053
Sun W, Chen H, Zhang B, Cheng Q, Yang H, Chen Z, Zeng G, Ding J, Chen W, Li Y. Chin J Chem, 2022, 40: 2963–2972
Kim C, Lee JH, Park JS, Lee S, Phan TNL, Kim YH, Kim BJ. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2023, 15: 24670–24680
Yi L, Dai S, Sun R, Wang W, Wu Y, Jiao X, Zhang C, Min J. Org Electron, 2020, 87: 105963
Deng M, Xu X, Duan Y, Yu L, Li R, Peng Q. Adv Mater, 2023, 35: 2210760
Zhu E, Fu L, Lu Y, Jiang W, Jee MH, Liu R, Li Z, Che G, Woo HY, Liu C. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2022, 14: 7082–7092
Yin Z, Guo X, Wang Y, Zhu L, Chen Y, Fan Q, Wang J, Su W, Liu F, Zhang M, Li Y. Chem Eng J, 2022, 442: 136018
Chen S, Feng L, Jia T, Jing J, Hu Z, Zhang K, Huang F. Sci China Chem, 2021, 64: 1192–1199
Su YJ, Nie H, Chang CF, Huang SC, Huang YH, Chen TW, Hsu KK, Lee TY, Shih HM, Ko CW, Chen JT, Hsu CS. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2021, 13: 59043–59050
Chen S, Hong L, Dong M, Deng W, Shao L, Bai Y, Zhang K, Liu C, Wu H, Huang F. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2023, 62: e202213869
Li T, Wang K, Cai G, Li Y, Liu H, Jia Y, Zhang Z, Lu X, Yang Y, Lin Y. JACS Au, 2021, 1: 1733–1742
Xiang W, Xu X, Huang Y, Yu L, Li R, Jiang Y, Peng Q. Chem Eng J, 2022, 441: 136058
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
Chai G, Chang Y, Peng Z, Jia Y, Zou X, Yu D, Yu H, Chen Y, Chow PCY, Wong KS, Zhang J, Ade H, Yang L, Zhan C. Nano Energy, 2020, 76: 105087
Wu J, Lee J, Chin YC, Yao H, Cha H, Luke J, Hou J, Kim JS, Durrant JR. Energy Environ Sci, 2020, 13: 2422–2430
Zhang C, Yuan J, Chiu KL, Yin H, Liu W, Zheng G, Ho JKW, Huang S, Yu G, Gao F, Zou Y, So SK. J Mater Chem A, 2020, 8: 8566–8574
Gokulnath T, Durga Gayathri R, Park HY, Kim J, Kim H, Kim J, Sudhaker Reddy S, Yoon J, Jin SH. Chem Eng J, 2022, 448: 137621
Qi Y, Chen H, Wang X, Wei Q, Li D, Li Y, Jiang L, Chen G, Zou Y. Chem Phys, 2021, 546: 111172
Kim C, Chen S, Park JS, Kim GU, Kang H, Lee S, Phan TNL, Kwon SK, Kim YH, Kim BJ. J Mater Chem A, 2021, 9: 24622–24630
Wang L, Guo C, Zhang X, Cheng S, Li D, Cai J, Chen C, Fu Y, Zhou J, Qin H, Liu D, Wang T. Chem Mater, 2021, 33: 8854–8862
Cai J, Fu Y, Guo C, Li D, Wang L, Chen C, Liu D, Li W, Wang T. Sci China Chem, 2023, 66: 508–517
Chen H, Xia X, Yuan J, Wei Q, Liu W, Li Z, Zhu C, Wang X, Guan H, Lu X, Li Y, Zou Y. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2021, 13: 36053–36061
Zhang J, Bai F, Angunawela I, Xu X, Luo S, Li C, Chai G, Yu H, Chen Y, Hu H, Ma Z, Ade H, Yan H. Adv Energy Mater, 2021, 11: 2102596
Li C, Zhou J, Song J, Xu J, Zhang H, Zhang X, Guo J, Zhu L, Wei D, Han G, Min J, Zhang Y, Xie Z, Yi Y, Yan H, Gao F, Liu F, Sun Y. Nat Energy, 2021, 6: 605–613
He C, Li Y, Liu Y, Li Y, Zhou G, Li S, Zhu H, Lu X, Zhang F, Li CZ, Chen H. J Mater Chem A, 2020, 8: 18154–18161
Liang J, Pan M, Wang Z, Zhang J, Bai F, Ma R, Ding L, Chen Y, Li X, Ade H, Yan H. Chem Mater, 2022, 34: 2059–2068
Chen Y, Liu T, Ma LK, Xue W, Ma R, Zhang J, Ma C, Kim HK, Yu H, Bai F, Wong KS, Ma W, Yan H, Zou Y. J Mater Chem A, 2021, 9: 7481–7490
Xu Y, Yao H, Ma L, Wu Z, Cui Y, Hong L, Zu Y, Wang J, Woo HY, Hou J. Mater Chem Front, 2021, 5: 893–900
Cho Y, Sun Z, Lee KM, Zeng G, Jeong S, Yang S, Lee JE, Lee B, Kang SH, Li Y, Li Y, Kwak SK, Yang C. ACS Energy Lett, 2023, 8: 96–106
Chai G, Chang Y, Zhang J, Xu X, Yu L, Zou X, Li X, Chen Y, Luo S, Liu B, Bai F, Luo Z, Yu H, Liang J, Liu T, Wong KS, Zhou H, Peng Q, Yan H. Energy Environ Sci, 2021, 14: 3469–3479
Chang Y, Zhang J, Chen Y, Chai G, Xu X, Yu L, Ma R, Yu H, Liu T, Liu P, Peng Q, Yan H. Adv Energy Mater, 2021, 11: 2100079
Chen Y, Chang Y, Ma R, Liu H, Yi J, Zhang J, Liu T, Qi Z, Yu K, Lu X, Hu H, Yan H. Chem Eng J, 2022, 441: 135998
Shang A, Luo S, Zhang J, Zhao H, Xia X, Pan M, Li C, Chen Y, Yi J, Lu X, Ma W, Yan H, Hu H. Sci China Chem, 2022, 65: 1758–1766
Kong X, Zhu C, Zhang J, Meng L, Qin S, Zhang J, Li J, Wei Z, Li Y. Energy Environ Sci, 2022, 15: 2011–2020
Deng M, Xu X, Duan Y, Yu L, Li R, Peng Q. Adv Funct Mater, 2023, 33: 2212290
Chen Z, Ge J, Guo Y, Zhao M, Shi J, Qiu Y, Zhou E, Ge Z. ACS Energy Lett, 2022, 7: 3432–3438
Park JS, Sun C, Han Y, Kim GU, Phan TNL, Kim YH, Kim BJ. Adv Energy Sustain Res, 2022, 3: 2200070
Chen Y, Bai F, Peng Z, Zhu L, Zhang J, Zou X, Qin Y, Kim HK, Yuan J, Ma L, Zhang J, Yu H, Chow PCY, Huang F, Zou Y, Ade H, Liu F, Yan H. Adv Energy Mater, 2021, 11: 2003141
Chen Y, Meng H, Ding L, Tang J, Yi J, Zhang J, Wang Z, Ma R, Li Z, Lyu L, Xu X, Li R, Peng Q, Yan H, Hu H. Chem Mater, 2022, 34: 10144–10152
Chen Y, Ma R, Liu T, Xiao Y, Kim HK, Zhang J, Ma C, Sun H, Bai F, Guo X, Wong KS, Lu X, Yan H. Adv Energy Mater, 2021, 11: 2003777
Luo Z, Gao Y, Lai H, Li Y, Wu Z, Chen Z, Sun R, Ren J, Zhang C’, He F, Woo HY, Min J, Yang C. Energy Environ Sci, 2022, 15: 4601–4611
Xiao C, Wang X, Zhong T, Zhou R, Zheng X, Liu Y, Hu T, Luo Y, Sun F, Xiao B, Liu Z, Yang C, Yang R. Adv Sci, 2023, 10: 2206580
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
Jia J, Huang Q, Jia T, Zhang K, Zhang J, Miao J, Huang F, Yang C. Adv Energy Mater, 2022, 12: 2103193
Li Y, Song J, Dong Y, Jin H, Xin J, Wang S, Cai Y, Jiang L, Ma W, Tang Z, Sun Y. Adv Mater, 2022, 34: 2110155
Jia T, Zhang J, Tang H, Jia J, Zhang K, Deng W, Dong S, Huang F. Chem Eng J, 2022, 433: 133575
Qiu J, Liu M, Wang Y, Xia X, Liu Q, Guo X, Lu X, Zhang M. Macromol Rapid Commun, 2023, 44: 2200753
Fu H, Li Y, Wu Z, Lin FR, Woo HY, Jen AK. Macromol Rapid Commun, 2022, 43: 2200062
Sun G, Jiang X, Li X, Meng L, Zhang J, Qin S, Kong X, Li J, Xin J, Ma W, Li Y. Nat Commun, 2022, 13: 5267
Sun C, Lee J, Seo S, Lee S, Wang C, Li H, Tan Z, Kwon S, Kim BJ, Kim Y. Adv Energy Mater, 2022, 12: 2103239
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Science Foundation of Henan University of Technology (2021BS044)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tian, L., Liu, C. & Huang, F. Recent progress in side chain engineering of Y-series non-fullerene molecule and polymer acceptors. Sci. China Chem. 67, 788–805 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-023-1774-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-023-1774-6