Recently developed benzodithiophene based organic solar cells: A review on materials and strategies


Cevher D., Cevher S. C., Cirpan A.

MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS, vol.37, pp.107524-107566, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.107524
  • Journal Name: MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Page Numbers: pp.107524-107566
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Organic solar cells (OSCs) a class of emerging photovoltaics for potentially disruptive technology have made progress significantly over the past two decades owing to their advantages of being cost-effective, having a low carbon footprint, enabling the production of flexible, semitransparent, and lightweight devices. In this prosperous field, the design and application of new materials had a great impact on the advancement of the performance of the devices. In the majority of works, the optical-active layer of devices comprises a polymer donor and a small molecule acceptor. A polymer donor is designed with a strategy of alternating an electron-donating unit and an electron-accepting unit. Among numerous electron-donating moieties, benzodithiophene-based polymers have exhibited a distinguished photovoltaic performance and break a 19% efficiency barrier in OSC devices. In this review article, we offered an overview of recent developments in benzodithiophene-bearing polymeric materials by giving special attention to modifications of backbones, functional groups, alkyl chains, and their impact on device performance. We purposed to provide a guideline about the chemical structureproperty relationship in terms of absorption profile, band gap, energy levels and device performance indexes.