Cyclization Engineering of Electron-Deficient Maleimide Unit for Nonfused Ring Electron Acceptors Enables Efficient Organic Solar Cells

Nonfused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) have emerged as promising materials for commercial applications in organic solar cells due to their straightforward synthesis process and cost-effectiveness. The rational design of their structural frameworks is crucial for enhancing device efficiency. In this study, we explore the use of maleimide and thiophene as key building blocks, employing cyclization engineering techniques. Additionally, cyclopentanedithiophene was chosen as the bridging unit, coupled with fluorinated terminals, to fabricate NFREAs, namely, PI-DTS and DPI-DTS. DPI-DTS demonstrated superior molecular planarity and an upshifted lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level. Moreover, DPI-DTS-based blend films display enhanced π–π interactions and crystallinity, alongside a predominantly face-on orientation. Consequently, DPI-DTS-based devices displayed enhanced and more balanced carrier mobility, reduced bimolecular recombination, and trap-assisted recombination, leading to improved charge transfer efficiency. Ultimately, this led to an excellent efficiency of 10.48%, with an open-circuit voltage as high as 0.914 V. These findings highlight the significant promise of aromatic imides in constructing NFREAs, and the established structure-performance relationship provides a theoretical basis for the design of high performance NFREAs.