Improved Performance of All‐Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Naphthodiperylenetetraimide‐Based Polymer Acceptor

Abstract

A new polymer acceptor, naphthodiperylenetetraimide-vinylene (NDP-V), featuring a backbone of altenating naphthodiperylenetetraimide and vinylene units is designed and applied in all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs). With this polymer acceptor, a new record power-conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 8.59% has been achieved for all-PSCs. The design principle of NDP-V is to reduce the conformational disorder in the backbone of a previously developed high-performance acceptor, PDI-V, a perylenediimide-vinylene polymer. The chemical modifications result in favorable changes to the molecular packing behaviors of the acceptor and improved morphology of the donor–acceptor (PTB7-Th:NDP-V) blend, which is evidenced by the enhanced hole and electron transport abilities of the active layer. Moreover, the stronger absorption of NDP-V in the shorter-wavelength range offers a better complement to the donor. All these factors contribute to a short-circuit current density (J _sc) of 17.07 mA cm⁻². With a fill factor (FF) of 0.67, an average PCE of 8.48% is obtained, representing the highest value thus far reported for all-PSCs.