The recent process and functional applications of inkjet printing in organic solar cells

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as a promising technology for flexible electronics, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and the internet of things due to their flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and high efficiency under low-light conditions. However, numerous issues in preparation processing arise from solute nonuniform distribution, interlayer interference, and insufficient phase separation, limiting its development from laboratory-scale fabrication to large-scale production. To address these challenges, non-contact inkjet printing has garnered substantial attention for its high precision and scalability. Hence, this review presents an overview of the fundamental working principles of inkjet printing technology and delves into the core issues faced during its application in OSCs. We have summarized and discussed the most commonly used and effective solution strategies from the perspectives of the photoactive layer, transport layer, electrodes layer, and even fully inkjet-printed devices. Finally, we provide a brief outlook on the challenges and opportunities of inkjet printing technology for OSCs.