The Multiple Roles of Nonfullerene Acceptors in Advancing Perovskite Solar Cells

Yaxin He; Xianglang Sun; Nan Li; Zonglong Zhu; Zhong'an Li

doi:10.1002/cssc.202501571

The Multiple Roles of Nonfullerene Acceptors in Advancing Perovskite Solar Cells

Yaxin He
, Xianglang Sun^*
, Nan Li^*
, Zonglong Zhu
, Zhong'an Li^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have now achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 27%, benefiting from rapid advancements in device processing and materials. However, challenges in processability and stability remain key barriers to their commercialization. Nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have garnered significant attention in perovskite research due to their high electron mobility, hydrophobicity, multiple defect-passivating functional groups, and complementary absorption in the near-infrared region. This review systematically summarizes the roles of NFAs in PSCs as electron transport layers, bulk-heterojunction layers, and interface layers. Finally, design principles are proposed for future NFA materials tailored for highly efficient and stable PSCs, paving the way for the commercialization of PSCs. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH

Original language	English
Article number	e202501571
Number of pages	15
Journal	ChemSusChem
Volume	18
Issue number	24
Online published	6 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202501571
Publication status	Published - 13 Dec 2025

Funding

Z.L. thanks the financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (no. 2023YFE0210900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China/Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme (no. 22361162608), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 22175067), and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (JCYJ20230807143608019). N.L. acknowledges support by Innovation and Technology Fund (MHP/079/23), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 52403249), Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (JCYJ20230807115000002), and Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan (2024A1515012034).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

electron transporting materials
interfacial engineering
nonfullerene acceptors
perovskite solar cells

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1002/cssc.202501571

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Cite this

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title = "The Multiple Roles of Nonfullerene Acceptors in Advancing Perovskite Solar Cells",

abstract = "Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have now achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 27\%, benefiting from rapid advancements in device processing and materials. However, challenges in processability and stability remain key barriers to their commercialization. Nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have garnered significant attention in perovskite research due to their high electron mobility, hydrophobicity, multiple defect-passivating functional groups, and complementary absorption in the near-infrared region. This review systematically summarizes the roles of NFAs in PSCs as electron transport layers, bulk-heterojunction layers, and interface layers. Finally, design principles are proposed for future NFA materials tailored for highly efficient and stable PSCs, paving the way for the commercialization of PSCs. {\textcopyright} 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH",

keywords = "electron transporting materials, interfacial engineering, nonfullerene acceptors, perovskite solar cells",

author = "Yaxin He and Xianglang Sun and Nan Li and Zonglong Zhu and Zhong'an Li",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "13",

doi = "10.1002/cssc.202501571",

language = "English",

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issn = "1864-5631",

publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The Multiple Roles of Nonfullerene Acceptors in Advancing Perovskite Solar Cells

AU - He, Yaxin

AU - Sun, Xianglang

AU - Li, Nan

AU - Zhu, Zonglong

AU - Li, Zhong'an

PY - 2025/12/13

Y1 - 2025/12/13

N2 - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have now achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 27%, benefiting from rapid advancements in device processing and materials. However, challenges in processability and stability remain key barriers to their commercialization. Nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have garnered significant attention in perovskite research due to their high electron mobility, hydrophobicity, multiple defect-passivating functional groups, and complementary absorption in the near-infrared region. This review systematically summarizes the roles of NFAs in PSCs as electron transport layers, bulk-heterojunction layers, and interface layers. Finally, design principles are proposed for future NFA materials tailored for highly efficient and stable PSCs, paving the way for the commercialization of PSCs. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH

AB - Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have now achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 27%, benefiting from rapid advancements in device processing and materials. However, challenges in processability and stability remain key barriers to their commercialization. Nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have garnered significant attention in perovskite research due to their high electron mobility, hydrophobicity, multiple defect-passivating functional groups, and complementary absorption in the near-infrared region. This review systematically summarizes the roles of NFAs in PSCs as electron transport layers, bulk-heterojunction layers, and interface layers. Finally, design principles are proposed for future NFA materials tailored for highly efficient and stable PSCs, paving the way for the commercialization of PSCs. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH

KW - electron transporting materials

KW - interfacial engineering

KW - nonfullerene acceptors

KW - perovskite solar cells

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105017869099

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105017869099&origin=recordpage

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001588275800001

U2 - 10.1002/cssc.202501571

DO - 10.1002/cssc.202501571

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1864-5631

VL - 18

JO - ChemSusChem

JF - ChemSusChem

IS - 24

M1 - e202501571

ER -

The Multiple Roles of Nonfullerene Acceptors in Advancing Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

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ITF: Development of Hole Transport Materials for High-performance and Low-cost Perovskite Solar Cells

Cite this

The Multiple Roles of Nonfullerene Acceptors in Advancing Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

ITF: Development of Hole Transport Materials for High-performance and Low-cost Perovskite Solar Cells

Cite this