Citation: Dawei Li, Haoming Song, Yibo Shi, Guangliu Ran, Cuifen Zhang, Andong Zhang, Ya-Nan Chen, Gendi Zhang, Zaifei Ma, Wenkai Zhang, Cuihong Li, Yahui Liu, Hao Lu, Zhishan Bo. High-performance organic solar cells based on non-fused-ring electron acceptors bearing asymmetric fluorinated lateral substituents[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 112438. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112438 shu

High-performance organic solar cells based on non-fused-ring electron acceptors bearing asymmetric fluorinated lateral substituents

Dawei Li ^{a, 1} ,
Haoming Song ^{a, 1} ,
Yibo Shi ^a ,
Guangliu Ran ^c ,
Cuifen Zhang ^d ,
Andong Zhang ^b ,
Ya-Nan Chen ^b ,
Gendi Zhang ^a ,
Zaifei Ma ^d ,
Wenkai Zhang ^c ,
Cuihong Li ^{a, *,} ,
Yahui Liu ^{b, *,} ,
Hao Lu ^{b, *,} ,
Zhishan Bo ^{a, b, *,}

a.
Key Laboratory of Energy Conversion and Storage Materials, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
b.
College of Textiles and Clothing, State Key Laboratory of Bio-fibers and Eco-textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
c.
School of Physics and Astronomy, Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Center for Advanced Quantum Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
d.
Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China

Received Date: 9 October 2025
Revised Date: 17 January 2026
Accepted Date: 20 January 2026
Available Online: 21 January 2026

Figures(6)

Molecular structure design is pivotal for enhancing the performance of non-fused-ring electron acceptors (NFREAs), yet systematic exploration of optimal side-group substitution sites remains underexplored. Via targeted modification of molecular structures, we designed and synthesized two asymmetric NFREAs, 3TT-m-2F and 3TT-o-2F, as structural isomers differing in fluorine substitution positions on their side chains. The integration of asymmetric molecular architectures and side-group fluorination significantly modulated their electronic properties and aggregation behaviors. Notably, 3TT-o-2F exhibited a redshifted absorption spectrum, enhanced molecular packing density, and extended exciton diffusion length compared to its meta-substituted counterpart. The D18:3TT-o-2F blend film formed a well-defined nanofiber network, promoting efficient charge migration and achieving a high charge mobility. Consequently, the corresponding organic solar cell (OSC) demonstrated a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.16%, outperforming the 3TT-m-2F-based device (PCE = 15.36%). These findings provide valuable guidelines for rational molecular engineering of high-performance NFREAs in OSCs.
- Organic solar cells,
- Non-fused-ring electron acceptors,
- Asymmetric,
- Power conversion efficiency,
- Fluorinated lateral substituents
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