Single-Junction Organic Solar Cell with over 15% Efficiency Using Fused-Ring Acceptor with Electron-Deficient Core

Non-fullerene acceptors based organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have attracted considerable attention in the last decade due to their great potential to realize high-power conversion efficiencies. To achieve higher performance OPVs, the fundamental challenges are in enabling efficient charge separation/transport and a low voltage loss at the same time. Here, we have designed and synthesized a new class of non-fullerene acceptor, Y6, that employs an electron-deficient-core-based central fused ring with a benzothiadiazole core, to match with commercially available polymer PM6. By this strategy, the Y6-based solar cell delivers a high-power conversion efficiency of 15.7% with both conventional and inverted architecture. By this research, we provide new insights into employing the electron-deficient-core-based central fused ring when designing new non-fullerene acceptors to realize improved photovoltaic performance in OPVs.