Effect of Non-fullerene Acceptors’ Side Chains on the Morphology and Photovoltaic Performance of Organic Solar Cells

Three indacenodithieno­[3,2-b]­thiophene (IT) cored small molecular acceptors (ITIC-SC6, ITIC-SC8, and ITIC-SC2C6) were synthesized, and the influence of side chains on their performances in solar cells was systematically probed. Our investigations have demonstrated the variation of side chains greatly affects the charge dissociation, charge mobility, and morphology of the donor:acceptor blend films. ITIC-SC2C6 with four branched side chains showed improved solubility, which can ensure the polymer donor to form favorable fibrous nanostructure during the drying of the blend film. Consequently, devices based on PBDB-ST:ITIC-SC2C6 demonstrated higher charge mobility, more effective exciton dissociation, and the optimal power conversion efficiency up to 9.16% with an FF of 0.63, a J_sc of 15.81 mA cm^–2, and a V_oc of 0.92 V. These results reveal that the side chain engineering is a valid way of tuning the morphology of blend films and further improving PCE in polymer solar cells.