A new series of metal-free organic chromophores (TPA-TTAR-A (1), TPA-T-TTAR-A (2), TPA-TTAR-T-A (3), and TPA-T-TTAR-T-A (4)) are synthesized for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on a donor-π-bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) design. Here a simple triphenylamine (TPA) moiety serves as the electron donor, a cyanoacrylic acid as the electron acceptor and anchoring group, and a novel tetrathienoacene (TTA) as the π-bridge unit. Because of the extensively conjugated TTA π-bridge, these dyes exhibit high extinction coefficients (4.5-5.2 × 10(4) M(-1) cm(-1)). By strategically inserting a thiophene spacer on the donor or acceptor side of the molecules, the electronic structures of these TTA-based dyes can be readily tuned. Furthermore, addition of a thiophene spacer has a significant influence on the dye orientation and self-assembly modality on TiO2 surfaces. The insertion of a thiophene between the π-bridge and the cyanoacrylic acid anchoring group in TPA-TTAR-T-A (dye 3) promotes more vertical dye orientation and denser packing on TiO2 (molecular footprint = 79 Å(2)), thus enabling optimal dye loading. Using dye 3, a DSSC power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.1% with Voc = 0.833 V, Jsc = 16.5 mA/cm(2), and FF = 70.0% is achieved, among the highest reported to date for metal-free organic DSSC sensitizers using an I(-)/I3(-) redox shuttle. Photophysical measurements on dye-grafted TiO2 films reveal that the additional thiophene unit in dye 3 enhances the electron injection efficiency, in agreement with the high quantum efficiency.

Developing dopant-free hole transporting layers (HTLs) is critical in achieving high-performance and robust state-of-the-art perovskite photovoltaics, especially for the air-sensitive tin-based perovskite systems. The commonly used HTLs require hygroscopic dopants and additives for optimal performance, which adds extra cost to manufacturing and limits long-term device stability. Here we demonstrate the use of a novel tetrakis-triphenylamine (TPE) small molecule prepared by a facile synthetic route as a superior dopant-free HTL for lead-free tin-based perovskite solar cells. The best-performing tin iodide perovskite cells employing the novel mixed-cation ethylenediammonium/formamidinium with the dopant-free TPE HTL achieve a power conversion efficiency as high as 7.23%, ascribed to the HTL's suitable band alignment and excellent hole extraction/collection properties. This efficiency is one of the highest reported so far for tin halide perovskite systems, highlighting potential application of TPE HTL material in low-cost high-performance tin-based perovskite solar cells.

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have drawn great interest from both academics and industry, due to the possibility of low-cost conversion of photovoltaic energy at reasonable efficiencies. This review focuses on recent progress in molecular engineering and technological aspects of fused-thiophene-based organic dye molecules for applications in solar cells. Particular attention has been paid to the design principles and stability of these dye molecules, as well as on the effects of various electrolyte systems for DSSCs. Importantly, it has been found that incorporation of a fused-thiophene unit into the sensitizer has several advantages, such as red-shift of the intramolecular charge transfer band, tuning of the frontier molecular energy level, and improvements in both photovoltaic performance and stability. This work also examines the correlation between the physical properties and placement of fused-thiophene in the molecular structure with regard to their performance in OPVs and DSSCs. OPEN ACCESSPolymers 2014, 6 2646

Developing efficient interfacial hole transporting materials (HTMs) is crucial for achieving high-performance Pb-free Sn-based halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we report a new series of benzodithiophene (BDT)-based organic small molecules containing tetra-and This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. 2 di-triphenyl amine donors via a straightforward and scalable synthetic route. The thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of two BDT-based molecules are shown to be structurally and energetically suitable to serve as HTMs for Sn-based perovskite solar cells.We report here that ethylenediammonium/formamidinium tin iodide solar cells using BDT-based HTMs deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 7.59%, outperforming analogous reference solar cells using traditional and expensive HTMs. Thus, these BDT-based molecules are promising candidates as HTMs for the fabrication of high-performance Sn-based perovskite solar cells.

A series of dialkylated dithienothiophenoquinoids (DTTQs), end‐functionalized with dicyanomethylene units and substituted with different alkyl chains, are synthesized and characterized. Facile one‐pot synthesis of the dialkylated DTT core is achieved, which enables the efficient realization of DTTQs as n‐type active semiconductors for solution‐processable organic field effect transistors (OFETs). The molecular structure of hexyl substituted DTTQ‐6 is determined via single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, revealing DTTQ is a very planar core. The DTTQ cores form a “zig‐zag” linking layer and the layers stack in a “face‐to‐face” arrangement. The very planar core structure, short core stacking distance (3.30 Å), short intermolecular SN distance (2.84 Å), and very low lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level of −4.2 eV suggest that DTTQs should be excellent electron transport candidates. The physical and electrochemical properties as well as OFETs performance and thin film morphologies of these new DTTQs are systematically studied. Using a solution‐shearing method, DTTQ‐11 exhibits n‐channel transport with the highest mobility of up to 0.45 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a current ON/OFF ratio (ION/IOFF) greater than 105. As such, DTTQ‐11 has the highest electron mobility of any DTT‐based small molecule semiconductors yet discovered combined with excellent ambient stability. Within this family, carrier mobility magnitudes are correlated with the alkyl chain length of the side chain substituents of DTTQs.

New 3,3'-dithioalkyl-2,2'-bithiophene (SBT)-based small molecular and polymeric semiconductors are synthesized by end-capping or copolymerization with dithienothiophen-2-yl units. Single-crystal, molecular orbital computations, and optical/electrochemical data indicate that the SBT core is completely planar, likely via S(alkyl)⋯S(thiophene) intramolecular locks. Therefore, compared to semiconductors based on the conventional 3,3'-dialkyl-2,2'-bithiophene, the resulting SBT systems are planar (torsional angle <1°) and highly π-conjugated. Charge transport is investigated for solution-sheared films in field-effect transistors demonstrating that SBT can enable good semiconducting materials with hole mobilities ranging from ≈0.03 to 1.7 cm V s . Transport difference within this family is rationalized by film morphology, as accessed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction experiments.

New branched alkyl tetrathienothiophene (TTAR)-based organic sensitizers with power conversion efficiency up to 11%.

New solution processable 3,5-dithioalkyl dithienothiophene (DSDTT) based small molecular semiconductors end functionalized with various (fused) thiophenes including dithienothiophene (DTT), thienothiophene (TT), and thiophene (T) are synthesized and characterized in organic field effect transistors (OFETs). The new DSDTT core was synthesized via a one-pot [1 + 1 + 1] methodology. For comparison, non-thiolated 3,5-dialkyl dithienothiophene (DRDTT) based molecules are also prepared and characterized. Optical, electrochemical, and computed electronic structures of these molecules are investigated and contrasted. Single crystal data support evidence of S­(alkyl)···S­(thiophene) intramolecular locks, with a very short intramolecular S–S distance of 3.17 Å, planarizing the structure as for the equivalent extended n-thienoacenes. Via a solution-shearing semiconductor film deposition method, these semiconductors exhibit a OFET hole mobility up to 2.6 cm2 V–1 s–1, the greatest reported to date for fused/all-thiophene based small molecular organic semiconductors.