Coordination‐Induced Dispersion of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Organic Solar Cells With 21.03% Efficiency

M Mengdi Li C Chengyi Xiao (Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic‐Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) Y Yang Cheng Z Zihao Gao (Beijing University of Chemical Technology , , ,) H Haiyun Fan (Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic–Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) S Shijie Liang (Beijing University of Chemical Technology , , ,) J Jinglan Kan (College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes Ministry of Education Shandong Normal University Jinan P. R. China) X Xiaoping Jiang (Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic‐Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China) C Chao Li Y Yanming Sun W Weiwei Li (Beijing University of Chemical Technology , , ,)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer modular architectures and ordered π‐channels ideal for organic solar cells (OSCs), yet their integration is hindered by poor solubility and deficient film‐forming rheology. Herein, a coordination‐induced dispersion strategy is reported using vanadium ions to unlock the potential of COFs as high‐performance hole transport layers (HTLs). By intercalating vanadium ions into a novel COF (TBpy), the metal centers act as “molecular wedges,” increasing interlayer spacing to transform the rigid framework into a highly dispersible, solution‐processable precursor. This coordination refines film morphology and fine‐tunes the electronic structure, establishing a seamless cascaded energy alignment. Consequently, OSCs utilizing TBpy‐V HTLs achieve a high power conversion efficiency of 21.03% and extraordinary durability ( T 80 lifetime of 20,097 h). Notably, the high conductivity of the framework renders the device thickness‐insensitive, maintaining 17.80% PCE at 75 nm—a critical advantage for large‐scale manufacturing. This study establishes metal‐ion intercalation as a versatile tool for optimizing both the processability and electronic dynamics of crystalline optoelectronic materials.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 42
Published July 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

M

Mengdi Li

C

Chengyi Xiao

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic‐Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

Y

Yang Cheng

Z

Zihao Gao

Beijing University of Chemical Technology , , ,

H

Haiyun Fan

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic–Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

S

Shijie Liang

Beijing University of Chemical Technology , , ,

J

Jinglan Kan

College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes Ministry of Education Shandong Normal University Jinan P. R. China

X

Xiaoping Jiang

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic‐Inorganic Composites Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China

C

Chao Li

Y

Yanming Sun

W

Weiwei Li

Beijing University of Chemical Technology , , ,