Truxene-Centered Electron Acceptors for Non-Fullerene Solar Cells: Alkyl Chain and Branched Arm Engineering

Abstract

A series of symmetrical truxene-centered and 3-ethylrhodanine end-capped electron acceptors with high absorption coefficient, namely Tr(Hex)6-3RD, Tr(Dec)6-3RD, and Tr(Hex)6-6RD, were prepared and constructed for non-fullerene solar cells. To satisfy solution-processability, multiple energy levels, and suitable morphology, these three acceptors were comparatively studied through alkyl chain (hexyl/decyl) and branched-arm engineering (three/six branched arms). The six-bladed propeller acceptor of Tr(Hex)6-6RD recorded the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.1% blending with PTB7-Th without additional additives and post-processing. This work highly broadens the potential applications of star-shaped truxene building blocks in the fields of organic electronics.

Synthesis, Processing and Applications of Conjugated Oligomers and Polymers 2.0

“…Lin et al [6] reported on the synthesis of novel oligomers capable of functioning as nonfullerene acceptors for OSCs. Several systems with the organic moiety truxene at the center, endcapped with 3-ethylrhodanine, as electron acceptors for OSCs with high absorption coefficients, were prepared and tested.…”