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Zhu J, Xia J, Li Y, Li Y. Perspective on Flexible Organic Solar Cells for Self-Powered Wearable Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2025; 17:5595-5608. [PMID: 39813268 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c12238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2025]
Abstract
The growing advancement of wearable technologies and sophisticated sensors has driven the need for environmentally friendly and reliable energy sources with robust mechanical stability. Flexible organic solar cells (OSCs) have become promising substitutes for traditional energy solutions thanks to their remarkable mechanical flexibility and high power conversion efficiency (PCE). These unique properties allow flexible OSCs to seamlessly integrate with diverse devices and substrates, making them an excellent choice for powering various electronic devices by efficiently harvesting solar energy. This review summarizes recent achievements in flexible OSCs from the perspective of self-powered wearable applications. It discusses advancements in materials, including substrates and transparent electrodes, evaluates performance criteria, and compares the PCEs of flexible OSCs to their rigid counterparts. Subsequently, novel applications of flexible OSCs in self-powered wearable applications are explored. Finally, a summary and perspectives on the current challenges and obstacles facing flexible OSCs and their applications in self-powered wearables are provided, aiming to inspire further research toward practical implementations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Zhu
- Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jinfeng Xia
- Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yaowen Li
- Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yongfang Li
- Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Novel Semiconductor-Optoelectronics Materials and Devices, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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Rajagopalan R, Shankar S S, Balasubramaniyan N, Mahaan R, John Bosco A, Sharma GD. Halogenation Strategy: Simple Wide Band Gap Nonfullerene Acceptors with the BODIPY-Thiophene-Backboned Polymer Donor for Enhanced Outdoor and Indoor Photovoltaics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:45265-45274. [PMID: 39151106 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c08769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
Researchers have been motivated to develop photovoltaic systems that can efficiently convert artificial light into power with the growing use of indoor electrical devices for the Internet of Things. Understanding the impact of molecular design strategies involving morphological optimization through the terminal group of the non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) is crucial. This is critically important to enhancing the photovoltaic efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices under diverse irradiation conditions. Halogenation of terminal groups proves to be a standout approach for adjusting energy levels, refining light-harvesting capabilities, crystallinity, and bolstering the intermolecular stacking in NFAs. Herein, we have designed two simple NFAs, DICTF-4F and DICTF-4Cl, to explore the dihalogenation (F and Cl) effect on the terminal group on the optical and electrochemical properties. After combining with the BODIPY-thiophene-backboned donor polymer P(BdP-HT), the organic solar cells (OSCs) using an optimized active layer with P(BdP-HT):DICTF-4F and P(BdP-HT):DICTF-4Cl attained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of about 8.03 and 14.16%, respectively, under 1 sun illumination. Moreover, the OSC-based P(BdP-HT):DICTF-4Cl active layer showed a PCE approaching 24% under 1000 lx indoor conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman Rajagopalan
- Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shyam Shankar S
- Department of Physics, the LNM Institute of Information Technology, Jamdoli, Jaipur 302031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Natarajan Balasubramaniyan
- Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramalingam Mahaan
- Advanced Materials Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aruljothy John Bosco
- Advanced Materials Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ganesh D Sharma
- Department of Physics, the LNM Institute of Information Technology, Jamdoli, Jaipur 302031, Rajasthan, India
- Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering, the LNM Institute of Information Technology, Jamdoli, Jaipur 302031, Rajasthan, India
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Ding P, Yang D, Yang S, Ge Z. Stability of organic solar cells: toward commercial applications. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2350-2387. [PMID: 38268469 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00492a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have attracted a great deal of attention in the field of clean solar energy due to their advantages of transparency, flexibility, low cost and light weight. Introducing them to the market enables seamless integration into buildings and windows, while also supporting wearable, portable electronics and internet-of-things (IoT) devices. With the development of photovoltaic materials and the optimization of fabrication technology, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of OSCs have rapidly improved and now exceed 20%. However, there is a significant lack of focus on material stability and device lifetime, causing a severe hindrance to commercial applications. In this review, we carefully review important strategies employed to improve the stability of OSCs over the past three years from the perspectives of material design and device engineering. Furthermore, we analyze and discuss the current important progress in terms of air, light, thermal and mechanical stability. Finally, we propose the future research directions to overcome the challenges in achieving highly stable OSCs. We expect that this review will contribute to solving the stability problem of OSCs, eventually paving the way for commercial applications in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Ding
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Energy Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Daobin Yang
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Energy Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuncheng Yang
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Energy Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
| | - Ziyi Ge
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Energy Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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