20.31% Efficiency Layer‐by‐Layer Organic Solar Cells Enabled by 3D Side‐Chain Topology‐Driven Dual‐Fiber Interpenetrating Networks

Constructing robust nanofibrillar networks in layer-by-layer (LbL) organic solar cells (OSCs) is challenging since small-molecule acceptors lack polymer-like interlocking capabilities. Herein, we propose a topology-driven strategy using bulky siloxane-terminated side chains to induce fibrillation. We synthesized asymmetric acceptors BTP-2Ph and BTP-3Ph by substituting one alkyl chain of L8-BO with diphenylmethylsilyl and triphenylsilyl groups, respectively. We reveal a size-dependent competition between steric hindrance and intermolecular interlocking. The bulkier triphenylsilyl group in BTP-3Ph provides strong interlocking that overrides steric-induced crystallinity loss, driving the formation of an interconnected acceptor nanofibrillar network. This creates an ideal dual-fiber morphology with the D18 donor. Consequently, the D18/BTP-3Ph device achieves an impressive 20.31% efficiency, significantly outperforming L8-BO (19.28%). Crucially, this physically interlocked framework kinetically freezes the optimal phase separation, enabling excellent operational stability with 85% initial efficiency retention after 650 h of continuous one-sun illumination.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2026-05-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.73422
Primary Topic
Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

20.31% Efficiency Layer‐by‐Layer Organic Solar Cells Enabled by 3D Side‐Chain Topology‐Driven Dual‐Fiber Interpenetrating Networks

Xingjian Dai, Chentong Liao, Jiankui Zhang, Weilin Zhou et al.
Advanced Materials
Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
article

20.31% Efficiency Layer‐by‐Layer Organic Solar Cells Enabled by 3D Side‐Chain Topology‐Driven Dual‐Fiber Interpenetrating Networks

Xingjian Dai, Chentong Liao, Jiankui Zhang, Weilin Zhou, Qingsong Huang, Yihui Wu, Qiang Peng, Xiaopeng Xu
article en

Abstract

Constructing robust nanofibrillar networks in layer-by-layer (LbL) organic solar cells (OSCs) is challenging since small-molecule acceptors lack polymer-like interlocking capabilities. Herein, we propose a topology-driven strategy using bulky siloxane-terminated side chains to induce fibrillation. We synthesized asymmetric acceptors BTP-2Ph and BTP-3Ph by substituting one alkyl chain of L8-BO with diphenylmethylsilyl and triphenylsilyl groups, respectively. We reveal a size-dependent competition between steric hindrance and intermolecular interlocking. The bulkier triphenylsilyl group in BTP-3Ph provides strong interlocking that overrides steric-induced crystallinity loss, driving the formation of an interconnected acceptor nanofibrillar network. This creates an ideal dual-fiber morphology with the D18 donor. Consequently, the D18/BTP-3Ph device achieves an impressive 20.31% efficiency, significantly outperforming L8-BO (19.28%). Crucially, this physically interlocked framework kinetically freezes the optimal phase separation, enabling excellent operational stability with 85% initial efficiency retention after 650 h of continuous one-sun illumination.

Advanced Materials
Chengdu University of Information Technology (CN), Chengdu University of Technology (CN), Ingenierie des Materiaux polymeres (FR)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

20.31% Efficiency Layer‐by‐Layer Organic Solar Cells Enabled by 3D Side‐Chain Topology‐Driven Dual‐Fiber Interpenetrating Networks — Xingjian Dai, Chentong Liao, et al. · Advanced Materials (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS