A major challenge for organic solar cell (OSC) research is how to minimize the tradeoff between voltage loss and charge generation. In early 2019, we reported a non-fullerene acceptor (named Y6) that can simultaneously achieve high external quantum efficiency and low voltage loss for OSC. Here, we use a combination of experimental and theoretical modeling to reveal the structure-property-performance relationships of this state-of-the-art OSC system. We find that the distinctive π–π molecular packing of Y6 not only exists in molecular single crystals but also in thin films. Importantly, such molecular packing leads to (i) the formation of delocalized and emissive excitons that enable small non-radiative voltage loss, and (ii) delocalization of electron wavefunctions at donor/acceptor interfaces that significantly reduces the Coulomb attraction between interfacial electron-hole pairs. These properties are critical in enabling highly efficient charge generation in OSC systems with negligible donor-acceptor energy offset.

Minimizing losses at interfaces: Among the issues facing the practical use of hybrid organohalide lead perovskite solar cells is the loss of charge carriers at interfaces. Hou et al. show that tantalum-doped tungsten oxide forms almost ohmic contacts with inexpensive conjugated polymer multilayers to create a hole-transporting material with a small interface barrier. This approach eliminates the use of ionic dopants that compromise device stability. Solar cells made with these contacts achieved maximum efficiencies of 21.2% and operated stably for more than 1000 hours. Science , this issue p. 1192

Multi-junction solar cell configurations, where two or further sub-cells with complementary absorption are stacked and connected in series or parallel, offer an exciting approach to tackle the single junction limitations of organic solar cells and further improve their power conversion efficiency. In this article we aim to follow up our previous work and review the most important and novel developments that have been recently reported on organic tandem solar cells. In addition, some brief theoretical considerations addressing the potential of single and tandem solar cells, the working principles of the intermediate layer, the importance and benefits of optical simulations and finally the intricacies of a precise performance measurement of bulk-heterojunction organic tandem solar cells based on complementary absorber materials are presented.