Stress‐Dissipative Network Design Unlocks Stretchy All‐Polymer Photovoltaics with Record Mechanical Robustness

Abstract Intrinsically stretchy all‐polymer solar cells (IS‐APSCs) offer potential for wearable and conformable energy‐harvesting devices but remain considerable distant from commercial adoption. Recently, thermoplastic elastomers have emerged as effective additives to enhance the intrinsic stretchability and mechanical resilience of organic photovoltaics. However, the underlying mechanisms by which elastomers influence the physical characteristics of stretchy photovoltaics remain underexplored. Here, this dilemma is uncovered through leveraging advanced Infrared Nanospectroscopy analysis and X‐ray scattering characterizations, revealing crucial insights that significantly retain the photovoltaic performance of IS‐APSCs. Medium molecular weight elastomeric additives are identified to form stress‐dissipative networks at relatively low concentrations, providing the most effective mechanical reinforcement and enabling the highest efficiency in IS‐APSCs. They possess high performance retention after hundreds of stretching cycles, significantly outperforming lower/higher molecular weight analogs. For the first time, finite element analysis are shown to accurately capture the tensile behavior of these blend films, in excellent agreement with experimental observations. Furthermore, the elastic modulus of the blend films, comprising elastomeric additives of varying molecular weights and conjugated polymers, closely follows theoretical predictions from the Coran‐Patel model. By bridging polymer physics, mechanical modeling, and device engineering, this work will aid in designing high‐efficiency stretchy photovoltaic devices.

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Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-08-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202512584
Citations
6
Primary Topic
Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.38

Funders

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article

Stress‐Dissipative Network Design Unlocks Stretchy All‐Polymer Photovoltaics with Record Mechanical Robustness

Saimeng Li, Wenchao Zhao, Bing Sun, Long Ye et al.
6 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
4.38
article

Stress‐Dissipative Network Design Unlocks Stretchy All‐Polymer Photovoltaics with Record Mechanical Robustness

Saimeng Li, Wenchao Zhao, Bing Sun, Long Ye, Vakhobjon Kuvondikov, Sherzod Nematov, Kai Zhang, Xin Li, Chunlong Sun, Miaoqiang Lv
article en
6 citations

Abstract

Abstract Intrinsically stretchy all‐polymer solar cells (IS‐APSCs) offer potential for wearable and conformable energy‐harvesting devices but remain considerable distant from commercial adoption. Recently, thermoplastic elastomers have emerged as effective additives to enhance the intrinsic stretchability and mechanical resilience of organic photovoltaics. However, the underlying mechanisms by which elastomers influence the physical characteristics of stretchy photovoltaics remain underexplored. Here, this dilemma is uncovered through leveraging advanced Infrared Nanospectroscopy analysis and X‐ray scattering characterizations, revealing crucial insights that significantly retain the photovoltaic performance of IS‐APSCs. Medium molecular weight elastomeric additives are identified to form stress‐dissipative networks at relatively low concentrations, providing the most effective mechanical reinforcement and enabling the highest efficiency in IS‐APSCs. They possess high performance retention after hundreds of stretching cycles, significantly outperforming lower/higher molecular weight analogs. For the first time, finite element analysis are shown to accurately capture the tensile behavior of these blend films, in excellent agreement with experimental observations. Furthermore, the elastic modulus of the blend films, comprising elastomeric additives of varying molecular weights and conjugated polymers, closely follows theoretical predictions from the Coran‐Patel model. By bridging polymer physics, mechanical modeling, and device engineering, this work will aid in designing high‐efficiency stretchy photovoltaic devices.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 36(6)
Academy of Sciences Republic of Uzbekistan (UZ), Tianjin University (CN), Nanjing Forestry University (CN), Guizhou University (CN), Karshi State University (UZ)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Tianjin
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
4.38
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