Recent Progress on New Charge Transfer Pathways in Organic Solar Cells

In the rapidly evolving field of organic solar cells (OSCs), the charge transfer (CT) process at the photoactive layer interface is pivotal for device performance. This article focuses on recent progress of Z-type CT pathway, an unconventional process in OSCs that differs significantly from traditional donor-acceptor systems. The Z-type process shows the potential for high open-circuit voltage devices. Herein, some applications in solar cells that are inspired by the Z-scheme in natural photosynthesis are first introduced. Subsequently, studies on mechanisms of charge generation and transfer in bilayer OSCs with Z-type characteristics are presented. In analogy to the devices in OSCs, other types of optoelectronic devices with similar electron transfer pathways are discussed. Lastly, challenges and potential opportunities are addressed, and the need for further research to harness the potential of Z-type devices in OSCs is emphasized. The charge transfer process is of great importance in organic solar cells (OSCs). In this article, recent progress of an unconventional charge transport pathway in organic solar cell, called Z-type devices, is discussed. The progress of its application and mechanism is introduced, and it is compared with similar processes in other organic photovoltaics.image (c) 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH