This review summarized the recent advances in Selenium-containing non-fullerene acceptors to give a deep insight into the relationship between molecular structure and photovoltaic performance.

Abstract

The diversity in molecular structures and solution processability of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs), particularly those containing selenium (Se), plays a pivotal role in advancing organic solar cells (OSCs). Among various molecular design strategies, the introduction of selenium atoms, characterized by their large covalent radius, loose electron cloud, and strong polarization properties, can enhance intermolecular Se-Se interactions and improve the electron-donating capability of π-cores. This approach is considered a significant avenue for optimizing the photovoltaic performance of active layer materials. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in selenium-containing acceptor molecules. These include ITIC-based fused ring NFAs, Y6-based fused ring NFAs, Y6-based polymer acceptors, non-fused ring electron acceptors and their application in tandem and ternary OSCs. Additionally, we analyze the future prospects and development of selenium-containing NFAs with the goal of achieving OSC efficiencies exceeding 20 %.