Advances in self-assembled monolayer-engineered organic solar cells

Abstract

The emergence of high-performing donor and acceptor materials, along with tailored interfacial layers, has enabled efficient and stable organic solar cells (OSCs) that are comparable to other state-of-the-art technologies. With power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) now exceeding 20%, further advancements via interfacial and morphology engineering are critical for improving performance metrics, which are crucial for the commercialization of OSC technology. The remarkable developments in self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-engineered OSCs over the past few years call for a new assessment of their progress. The potential of SAMs in advancing the PCE of single-material OSCs also appears promising. In this review, we explore the diverse roles of SAM in OSCs, highlighting their impact on charge generation, transport, and extraction, particularly in high-efficiency, non-fullerene acceptor (NFA)-based devices. We also examine the stability challenges associated with SAM-engineered OSCs and the trade-offs between efficiency and durability. Finally, we discuss future directions, including scalability considerations for SAM-integrated OSCs. Given the recent surge of interest in SAM-engineered OSCs, this article provides valuable insights for the research community.