Perylenediimides as more than just non-fullerene acceptors: versatile components in organic, hybrid and perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Recent reviews have highlighted the use of perylenediimides (PDIs) as non-fullerene acceptors in bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices. This review is focused on the advances in the incorporation of PDIs as photoactive components in different solar cell devices. An impressive number of perylenediimides have been incorporated into p–n organic solar cells, as non-fullerene acceptors in bulk heterojunction solar cells, as photosensitisers in dye-sensitised solar cells, in perovskite solar cells, and also as interlayers acting as either electron- or hole-transporting materials. All of this has led to devices with outstanding photovoltaic performance and these are described in this review.