Calix[8]Arene‐Tethered Dendritic Octamer Acceptor with Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Enables 20.7% Efficiency Organic Solar Cells with Exceptional Stability

L Lunbi Wu T Tianchen Pan (Advanced Materials Thrust Function Hub The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Nansha Guangzhou 511400 P.R. China) X Xinkang Wang Y Yulong Hai S Sha Liu R Ruijie Ma J Junyu Lu (Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) L Liangbin Xiong (School of Optoelectronic Engineering Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University Guangzhou 510665 P.R. China) Y Yi Chan J Junyin Dong (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Function Hub Advanced Materials Thrust Guangzhou China) Y Yao Li Y Yongmin Luo L Lei Zhu B Biao Xiao J Jie Zhang J Junwu Chen (Laboratory of Artificial Chemical Intelligence (LIAC), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering) T Tianyi Zhang J Jiaying Wu S Shengjian Liu (School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage, Key Laboratory of Electronic Chemicals for Integrated Circuit Packaging) T Tao Jia (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) F Fei Huang

Abstract

Abstract Increasing the molecular weight of the acceptor is an effective strategy to suppress excessive crystallization and molecular diffusion, thereby addressing morphological challenges in organic solar cells (OSCs). Therefore, designing high‐molecular‐weight acceptors with well‐defined structures is crucial for achieving efficient and stable OSCs towards commercialization. Herein, we report a calix[8]arene‐tethered dendritic octameric acceptor with a molecular weight of 14243 g mol −1 and a well‐defined structure. Owing to its dendritic structure, which facilitates both multidimensional charge transport and molecular interactions, C8‐IC can operate efficiently, achieving a high‐power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.7%, despite its lower crystallinity. Moreover, it effectively acts as a crystallization manipulator, regulating the interaction and crystallization within the D18:L8‐BO system. This optimizes charge management in the ternary system, achieving a state‐of‐the‐art efficiency of 20.7%. To our knowledge, this is among the highest efficiency values reported for OSCs based on dendritic acceptors. Moreover, the ultrahigh molecular weight of the dendritic acceptor effectively increases the glass transition temperature ( T g ), inhibits molecular diffusion, and stabilizes the morphology, leading to significantly improved device stability. This work presents high‐performance OSCs based on a dendritic acceptor with ultrahigh molecular weight and provides valuable insights into the design of acceptor materials for highly stable OSCs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 36
Published September 01, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (21)

L

Lunbi Wu

T

Tianchen Pan

Advanced Materials Thrust Function Hub The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Nansha Guangzhou 511400 P.R. China

X

Xinkang Wang

Y

Yulong Hai

S

Sha Liu

R

Ruijie Ma

J

Junyu Lu

Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

L

Liangbin Xiong

School of Optoelectronic Engineering Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University Guangzhou 510665 P.R. China

Y

Yi Chan

J

Junyin Dong

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Function Hub Advanced Materials Thrust Guangzhou China

Y

Yao Li

Y

Yongmin Luo

L

Lei Zhu

B

Biao Xiao

J

Jie Zhang

J

Junwu Chen

Laboratory of Artificial Chemical Intelligence (LIAC), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering

T

Tianyi Zhang

J

Jiaying Wu

S

Shengjian Liu

School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage, Key Laboratory of Electronic Chemicals for Integrated Circuit Packaging

T

Tao Jia

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

F

Fei Huang