Recent progress in emerging 2D layered materials for organic solar cells

Abstract Currently, organic solar cells (OSCs) are one of the most cutting-edge photovoltaic technologies due to their light-weight, semitransparent, and flexible advantages, which meet the needs of commercial applications. In order to fully develop the application potential of this novel class of photovoltaic cells, organic molecular design and device construction have all been playing significant roles. Research shows that two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with unique physical structure and excellent photoelectric properties can effectively optimize the device performance of OSCs. Although the exploration of various emerging 2D materials for use in OSCs has made considerable progress, there remain some crucial bottlenecks to be solved. In this review, the progress that has been made in the application of these 2D materials for OSCs in recent years is presented, including MXenes, black phosphorus (BP), and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), etc. The merits and demerits of 2D materials in OSCs application are summarized in detail. Ultimately, it outlines the commercial development direction of OSCs in the near future, and the significance of 2D materials in stable, low-cost, large-area, and flexible devices.