A Naphthodithiophene-Diketopyrrolopyrrole Donor Molecule for Efficient Solution-Processed Solar Cells

Abstract

We report the synthesis, characterization, and first implementation of a naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b']dithiophene (NDT)-based donor molecule in highly efficient organic photovoltaics (OPVs). When NDT(TDPP)(2) (TDPP = thiophene-capped diketopyrrolopyrrole) is combined with the electron acceptor PC(61)BM, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.06 ± 0.06% is achieved-a record for a PC(61)BM-based small-molecule OPV. The substantial PCE is attributed to the broad, high oscillator strength visible absorption, the ordered molecular packing, and an exceptional hole mobility of NDT(TDPP)(2).

Torsional angle dependence and switching of inner sphere reorganisation energies for electron and hole transfer processes involving phenyl substituted diketopyrrolopyrroles; a density functional study

“…[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] We have recently undertaken a detailed characterisation of the photophysical, photochemical and charge transfer, CT properties of single molecule DPPs in solution, the solid phase and in thin films with a view to ultimately developing novel sensor applications and electronic devices.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge there are no published values of λ h/e hitherto for any DPPs despite the ever-growing number of publications involving their use in CT based materials. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] The rest of the paper is laid out as follows; first, we give a brief description of the computation methods used to determine λ h/e (according to Equations 2-4). In the results and discussion section we first describe the influence of basis set and DFT employed on the computed λ h/e values of H 2 P 2 DPP.…”

Efficiency enhancement in solution-processed organic small molecule: Fullerene solar cells via solvent vapor annealing

“…[1][2][3][4] Comparing to the polymer counterparts, organic solar cells based on small molecules have several unique advantages such as well-defined chemical structure, ease of purification, and reduced batch-to-batch variations. [5][6][7][8][9][10] Recent development of small molecule electron donor materials led to a milestone power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10% in single-junction devices 10,11 and in tandem cells. 9 Meanwhile, the overall device performance of small molecule solar cells (SMSCs) is still inferior to their polymer counterparts due to a poor understanding and manipulating of the film morphology, which is crucial for exciton dissociation, charge transport, and collection.…”

Naphthodithiophene-Based Semiconducting Materials for Applications in Organic Solar Cells

“…Furthermore, naphthodithiophene (NDT) shows greater versatility towards structure modi cations than benzodithiophene (BDT) since there are more opening sites on NDT. Naphthodithiophene can be functionalized with strong electron withdrawing units such as diimide groups [64] and the functionalization can be carried out at various positions [65][66][67][68]. In spite of these promising characteristics, in comparison to BDT-based organic semiconductors, NDT-based semiconductors received much less attentions in organic solar cells, which is likely due to the lack of practical synthetic routes to the NDT units.…”

“…In spite of these promising characteristics, in comparison to BDT-based organic semiconductors, NDT-based semiconductors received much less attentions in organic solar cells, which is likely due to the lack of practical synthetic routes to the NDT units. Recently developed synthetic routes to various naphthodithiophene isomers [61,65,66] have enabled the community to investigate this novel class of organic semiconductors, and promising device performance with power conversion e ciencies greater than 8% has been achieved in OSCs. The results show the great potentials of naphthodithiophene core for creating high performance solar cell materials.…”