Professor Philip C.Y. Chow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has led a team of researchers to achieve a significant breakthrough in organic photovoltaics.
Their study, titled “The role of interfacial donor-acceptor percolation in efficient and stable all-polymer solar cells,” opens the door for more sustainable and practical solar energy solutions for everyday use. The findings were published as a featured article in the field.the scientific journal Nature Communications. Organic photovoltaics (OPV) uses affordable, printable, and eco-friendly polymer semiconductors, making it an excellent option for sustainable and renewable energy production. The softness of polymers has posed a challenge in developing high-efficiency and long-lasting OPV devices.
The team’s research has provided insight into addressing this challenge. They concentrated on a novel electron-accepting molecule, Y6, which has demonstrated potential when polymerized.The use of femtosecond laser pulses to study the charge dynamics of polymerised Y6 acceptors (Y6-PAs) has revealed that controlling the degree of aggregation is important for efficient and stable OPV devices.
It was also found that Y6-PAs have better compatibility with donor polymers compared to small molecular acceptors of the same type. This compatibility allows for the creation of a nanoscale percolation network at the interface, preventing the aggregation of Y6-PAs and ultimately enhancing electricity generation.The efficiency of charge generation is increased and the stability of the polymer blend morphology is improved, reducing the loss in device performance over time when exposed to solar illumination.
Prof Philip C.Y. Chow expressed excitement about the breakthrough, saying: “Our discovery creates new opportunities for the advancement of efficient and stable polymer-based solar PV panels, making way for more sustainable and practical solar energy solutions that can be easily integrated into our environment, such as buildings, vehicles, electronic products, and even clothing.”
The study was a collaborative effort.The study was a collaborative effort with Professor Harald Ade’s team from North Carolina State University, Professor Yuanping Yi’s team from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, and Professor Hin-Lap Yip’s team from the City University of Hong Kong. This collaboration allowed for the integration of expertise from multiple research groups, including ultrafast optical spectroscopy, quantum chemical modelling, synchrotron X-ray scattering, and solar cell device manufacturing. Dr. Zhen Wang, a Post-doctoral Fellow in Prof Chow’s team at HKU, was the lead author of the study.
Journal Reference:
- Z. Wang, Y. Guo, X. Liu, W. Shu, G. Han, K. Ding, S. Mukherjee, N. Zhang, H.-L. Yip, Y. Yi, H. Ade, P.C.Y. Chow. The significance of interfacial donor–acceptor percolation in effective and durable all-polymer solar cells. Nature Communications, 2024; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45455-0