Electrostatic Modulation of Central Units Enables High‐Performance Fused‐Ring Trimeric Acceptors

Z Zheng Xu S Saisai Liu Z Ziqi Ma J Jian Liu W Wenkai Zhao (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials) W Wendi Shi (State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST)) Y Yu Li Y Yaxiao Guo (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Separation Membrane Materials School of Chemistry Tiangong University Tianjin China) Z Zhaoyang Yao (State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry) G Guanghui Li G Guankui Long (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials) X Xiangjian Wan (State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry) C Chenxi Li (State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry) Y Yongsheng Chen (Department of Neurosurgery The Tenth Affiliated Hospital Southern Medical University Dongguan China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fused‐ring trimeric acceptor benefits from both the high symmetry/planarity of small‐molecule acceptors and the large glass transition temperature of polymeric acceptors, making it highly potential to achieve organic solar cells (OSCs) with excellent power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and long‐term stabilities simultaneously. However, due to the structural complexity of ring‐fused trimeric acceptor, conveniently tuning its optoelectronic properties remains a significant challenge. Herein, the first family of optically and electrostatically tunable fused‐ring trimeric acceptors (CH34, CH35, and CH36) is constructed by incorporating electron‐donating triazatruxene, electron‐neutral triphenylene and electron‐withdrawing tricycloquinazoline as central planes, respectively. All the trimeric acceptors maintain the intrinsic rigidity and planarity of molecular skeleton, which endow them with very small reorganization energies and weak electron–phonon coupling. Moreover, the quite different electrostatic properties of central cores exert significant effects on the energy levels distribution and light harvesting capacity of acceptors. Consequently, CH36 achieves a good PCE of 16.73%, representing the best performance among ring‐fused trimeric acceptors. Remarkably, CH36‐based ternary OSCs further render an excellent PCE of 20.48% along with substantially improved operational stability. Our work demonstrates the great potential of fused‐ring trimeric acceptor for realizing both highly efficient and stable organic photovoltaics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 27, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

Z

Zheng Xu

S

Saisai Liu

Z

Ziqi Ma

J

Jian Liu

W

Wenkai Zhao

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials

W

Wendi Shi

State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST)

Y

Yu Li

Y

Yaxiao Guo

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Separation Membrane Materials School of Chemistry Tiangong University Tianjin China

Z

Zhaoyang Yao

State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry

G

Guanghui Li

G

Guankui Long

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials

X

Xiangjian Wan

State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry

C

Chenxi Li

State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry

Y

Yongsheng Chen

Department of Neurosurgery The Tenth Affiliated Hospital Southern Medical University Dongguan China