Nature Communications (Jul 2025)
Revealing electron transport connectivity as an important factor influencing stability of organic solar cells
- Haixia Hu,
- Rui Zhang,
- Dongcheng Jiang,
- Xinyu Mu,
- Jicheng Yi,
- Han Yu,
- Lik-Kuen Ma,
- Bin Li,
- Lingxin Cao,
- Mengzhen Sha,
- Jiangkai Sun,
- Ruohua Gui,
- Wei Liu,
- Shijie Liang,
- Longlong Li,
- Shufen Huang,
- Jianyu Yuan,
- Chengwang Niu,
- Cunquan Qu,
- Jun Yuan,
- Rongkun Zhou,
- Chen Zhang,
- Lin Lu,
- Xiaoyan Du,
- Kun Gao,
- Weiwei Li,
- Shu Kong So,
- Yingping Zou,
- Yanming Sun,
- Xiaotao Hao,
- Feng Gao,
- He Yan,
- Hang Yin
Affiliations
- Haixia Hu
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University
- Dongcheng Jiang
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Xinyu Mu
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Jicheng Yi
- Department of Chemistry and Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Han Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Lik-Kuen Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Bin Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University
- Lingxin Cao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University
- Mengzhen Sha
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Jiangkai Sun
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Ruohua Gui
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Wei Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University
- Shijie Liang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- Longlong Li
- School of Mathematics and Data Science Institute, Shandong University
- Shufen Huang
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Jianyu Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University
- Chengwang Niu
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Cunquan Qu
- School of Mathematics and Data Science Institute, Shandong University
- Jun Yuan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University
- Rongkun Zhou
- Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Chen Zhang
- Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Lin Lu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University
- Xiaoyan Du
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Kun Gao
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Weiwei Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- Shu Kong So
- Department of Physics and Institute of Advanced Materials, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong
- Yingping Zou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University
- Yanming Sun
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Beihang University
- Xiaotao Hao
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- Feng Gao
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University
- He Yan
- Department of Chemistry and Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Hang Yin
- School of Physics, Shandong University
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60599-3
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 16,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 14
Abstract
Abstract In the pursuit of advancing the commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs), stability emerges as a paramount challenge. Herein, we show that the electron transport connectivity is a key factor determining the electron transport and device stability of OSCs. When compared to small molecular acceptors (SMAs), the larger-size polymeric acceptors (PAs) are likely to establish an electron transport network with superior connectivity. This enhanced connectivity enables more robust electron transport during potential device degradation. Our findings indicate that PA-integrated devices sustain elevated electron mobilities, even under reduced acceptor ratios (or higher impurity doping) over prolonged device operation. Furthermore, we employ the refined Su-Schrieffer-Heeger tight-binding model, in tandem with a random electron passing test and algebraic connectivity evaluations of molecular configurations, to conclusively validate the pivotal role played by the electron transport connectivity. These revelations are poised to offer new perspectives for material choices and methodologies for improving stability of OSCs.
