Recent advances in wide bandgap semiconducting polymers for polymer solar cells

Abstract

As key components in the active layer of multi-junction, ternary blend, or non-fullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs), wide bandgap semiconducting polymers have the characteristic of exhibiting strong absorption bands in the short-wavelength region. In multi-junction, ternary blend, or non-fullerene PSCs, wide bandgap polymers can provide complementary absorption profiles with low bandgap counterparts, thereby further increasing power conversion efficiencies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of wide bandgap semiconducting polymers and their applications in PSCs, and discuss the designs as well as the material structure–property-device performance correlations. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the challenges and future developments of wide bandgap semiconducting polymers.