Rigid Nonfullerene Acceptors Based on Triptycene-Perylene Dye for Organic Solar Cells

Covalently Linked 5,6,11,12-Tetraazanaphthacene Dimer and Its Triptycene-Capped Derivatives as Electron Acceptors

The development of electron transport and n-type materials is still largely dominated by a limited number of organic semiconductors, with fullerenes at the forefront. In contrast, substantial progress has been made in developing hole transport and p-type materials. Therefore, expanding the range of electron acceptors, making them solution-processable, and elucidating their structural arrangement by X-ray crystallography is essential. We synthesised 2,2'-bi-(5,6,11,12-tetraazanaphthacene) (bi-TANC) and its triptycene end-capped derivative, 2,2'-bi(8,13-dihydro-8,13-[1,2]benzenonaphtho-5,6,15,16-tetraazanaphthacene) (bi-TpTANC), as electron acceptors. Bi-TANC exhibits a herringbone-like crystal packing with intermolecular π-π overlap, which is observed in typical organic n-type semiconductors. However, it showed poor solubility, similar to larger acenes. In contrast, bi-TpTANC exhibited favourable solubility, and its electrochemistry in solution was investigated. In the cyclic voltammogram of bi-TpTANC, reversible redox waves corresponding to 3-step/4-electron transfer were observed at -0.795 V (1e-), -0.927 V (1e-), and -1.44 V (2e-) as half-wave potentials. The redox wave associated with the two-electron transfer on the negative low-potential side indicates the presence of through-bond charge delocalisation in the monoanionic state. Furthermore, the LUMO level of bi-TpTANC is -4.1 eV, which indicates its potential as a promising air-stable n-type material.

Acene-Extended Triptycenes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Singlet Exciton Fission Properties

Three acene-extended triptycenes, TIPS-Antrip, TIPS-Tetrip, and TIPS-Pentrip, which contain TIPS-ethynyl functionalized anthracene, tetracene, and pentacene as subunits, respectively, are synthesized and characterized. It is found that the optoelectronic properties and crystal packing motifs could be modulated by changing the subunits. A preliminary exploration of the excited-state behavior of these molecules indicates that TIPS-Tetrip and TIPS-Pentrip exhibit intramolecular singlet fission (iSF).

Improving the Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells by Introducing Perylene Diimide Derivative as Third Component and Individually Dissolving Donor/Acceptor

A perylene diimide (PDI) derivative was used as the third component to prepare high-efficiency ternary organic solar cells (OSCs). PDI derivatives usually bear a wide bandgap and a long exciton diffusion length, which could be helpful to promote the device efficiency and still retain a high open-circuit voltage (V_oc ). Compared with the binary OSC, the photovoltaic performance improved. Further changing the method for preparing the processing solutions from dissolving the polymer donor and small-molecule acceptor ITTC together to dissolving them individually, molecular packing in the deposited active layer could be adjusted and the short-circuit current density could be increased. As a result, the final device efficiency in such OSCs achieved 12.29 % power conversion efficiency (PCE) with a high V_oc of 0.93 V. When using the PDI derivative as the third component to D18 : BTP-eC9-based OSCs, a high PCE of 17.38 % was obtained, which is the best one among photovoltaic devices employing PDI derivatives.

Truxene Functionalized Star-Shaped Non-fullerene Acceptor With Selenium-Annulated Perylene Diimides for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

An electron acceptor with a truxene core and ring-fusion perylene diimide (PDI) tripolymer annulated by selenium (Se) branch, named as FTr-3PDI-Se, is designed and synthesized. FTr-3PDI-Se exhibits large conjugated planar conformation, strong absorption spectra in the regions of 300-400 and 450-550 nm, the deep HOMO energy level of 6.10 eV, and high decomposition temperature above 400°C. The FTr-3PDI-Se: PBDB-T-2Cl based device achieved a disappointing power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.6% together with a high V oc of 1.12 V. The low PCE was due to the large aggregates of blend film, the imbalanced hole/electron transport and low PL quenching efficiencies. The high V oc can be attributed to the high-lying LUMO level of FTr-3PDI-Se and the low-lying HOMO level of PBDB-T-2Cl. Our research presents an interesting and effective molecule-designing method to develop non-fullerene acceptor.

Giant Rylene Imide-Based Electron Acceptors for Organic Photovoltaics

ConspectusRylene imides are oligo(peri-naphthalene)s bearing one or two six-membered carboxylic imide rings. Their flexible reaction sites and unique photoelectronic properties have afforded active research for applications in photovoltaic devices, light-emitting diodes, and fluorescent sensors. Over the past few decades, synthetic flexibility along with the evolution of molecular design principles for novel aromatic imides has rendered these intriguing dyes considerably valuable, especially for organic photovoltaics (OPVs).During the course of molecular evolution, the most difficult criterion to meet is how to modulate the intra- and intermolecular interactions to alter the aggregation behavior of rylene imides as well as their compatibility with donor materials, with the prerequisite that the appropriate molecular energy level is maintained. In the meantime, our group has focused on the precise synthesis of π-extended rylene imide electron acceptors (RIAs) to rationally alter the molecular chemical and electronic structure, packing arrangement, and photoelectronic properties. These powerful molecular design strategies include the construction of a fully conjugated rigid multichromophoric architecture and successful integration of heteroatoms. Herein, these multichromophoric oligomers are precisely defined as giant rylene imides. Importantly, these strategies provide a vast space for progress in RIAs and present a more comprehensive structure-performance relationship network that can be distinguished from other electron acceptor systems. In particular, the successful acquisition of these fused superhelical architectures provides a meaningful reference for the pluralistic development of OPVs, such as triplet organic solar cells and polarized-light photovoltaic detectors. Meanwhile, the introduction of heteroatoms into the rylene conjugated skeleton provides donor/acceptor interfaces with enhanced electronic interactions and thereby suppresses the polaron-pair binding energy. Nonetheless, much remains to be implemented to broaden the absorption capability of rylene imides as well as to realize full utilization of these meaningful chiral isomers with a wide and strong UV-vis spectroscopic response.In this Account, we provide an overview of our novel approaches toward a supermolecular framework and of the reformed molecular design principle for rylene imide-based electron acceptors since 2012. We begin with a discussion of the rapidly emerging synthesis strategies for giant rylene imides. Then several typical examples with remarkable photovoltaic properties and unique working mechanisms are selected, aimed at providing an in-depth discussion of structure-property-performance relationships. The remaining challenges and newly emerging research information for giant rylene imide-based electron acceptors are further put forward. It is our aspiration that this Account will trigger intensive research interest in these pluralist rylene-based electron acceptors, thereby further accelerating the profound sustainable development of organic solar cells.

Regiocontrolled dimerization of asymmetric diazaheptacene derivatives toward X-shaped porous semiconductors

Conformationally rigid X-shaped PAHs are attracting interest due to their self-assembly into unique networks and as models to study through-space exciton and charge delocalization in one single molecule. We report here the synthesis of X-shaped PAHs by dimerization of diazaheptacene diimides. The diimide groups are employed to effectively direct the self-assembly into antiparallel dimer aggregates, which assist the compounds to undergo a regiocontrolled [4 + 4] dimerization, leading to an X-shaped conformation bearing electron-poor and -rich subunits. The resulting PAHs are found to pack in 2D layers with large open channels and infinite π⋯π arrays. Furthermore, these highly crystalline porous materials serve as electron-transporting materials in OFETs due to the long-range π-stacked arrays in the layers. This work presents a potentially generalizable strategy, which may provide a unique class of porous semiconductors for organic devices, taking advantage of their open channels.

The synthesis of conformationally rigid X-shaped PAHs by regiocontrolled cyclodimerization of diazaheptacene diimides is presented. The resulting porous materials exhibit enhanced semiconducting behaviors with large open channels.

Development of Perylene-Based Non-Fullerene Acceptors through Bay-Functionalization Strategy

Perylene has had a tremendous impact in the history of material research for the molecular semiconductors. Among numerous derivatives of this polyaromatic hydrocarbon, perylene diimide (PDI) represents a promising class of organic materials envisioned as non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) for the practical organic photovoltaic (OPV) applications due to their enhanced photo- and thermal stability and remarkably high electron affinity, some of which realize band-like transport properties. The present review guides some of the representative achievements in the development of rationally designed PDI systems, highlighting synthetic methodologies based on bay-functionalization strategies for creating well-designed molecular nanostructures and structure-performance relationship of perylene-based small molecular acceptors (SMAs) for the photovoltaic outcomes.

Perylenediimides as more than just non-fullerene acceptors: versatile components in organic, hybrid and perovskite solar cells

The most recent advances in the incorporation of perylenediimides in photovoltaic devices are highlighted.

Propeller-Shaped Aluminum Complexes with an Azaperylene Core in the Ligands

Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum(III) (Alq3) and its derivatives, characterized by a propeller-shaped three-dimensionally π-conjugated structure, have been intensively studied in the few past decades on account of their potential utility in optoelectronic applications. Reported herein are the synthesis and properties of π-extended Alq3 complexes that contain an azaperylene core in each ligand. Intramolecular palladium-catalyzed direct C–H arylations or base-promoted arylations were employed to prepare these large Alq3 analogues. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of one of the obtained Al complexes revealed a unique three-dimensional packing structure within the crystal, i.e., a honeycomb packing along the ab-plane and columnar π-stacks along the c-axis. An Alq3 analogue with azaperylene-dicarboximide ligands exhibited deep blue color in solution with an intense absorption band that extended to 780 nm (λmax = 634 nm; ε = 58,000 M−1 cm−1).

Triperyleno[3,3,3]propellane triimides: achieving a new generation of quasi-D 3h symmetric nanostructures in organic electronics

Rigid three-dimensional (3D) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in particular 3D nanographenes, have garnered interest due to their potential use in semiconductor applications and as models to study through-bond and through-space electronic interactions. Herein we report the development of a novel 3D-symmetric rylene imide building block, triperyleno[3,3,3]propellane triimides (6), that possesses three perylene monoimide subunits fused on a propellane. This building block shows several promising characteristics, including high solubility, large π-surfaces, electron-accepting capabilities, and a variety of reactive sites. Further, the building block is compatible with different reactions to readily yield quasi-D 3h symmetric nanostructures (9, 11, and 13) of varied chemistries. For the 3D nanostructures we observed red-shift absorption maxima and amplification of the absorption coefficients when compared to the individual subunits, indicating intramolecular electronic coupling among the subunits. In addition, the microplates of 9 exhibit comparable mobilities in different directions in the range of 10-3 cm2 V-1 s-1, despite the rather limited intermolecular overlap of the π-conjugated moieties. These findings demonstrate that these quasi-D 3h symmetric rylene imides have potential as 3D nanostructures for a range of materials applications, including in organic electronic devices.

A fully fused non-fullerene acceptor containing angular-shaped S,N-heteroacene and perylene diimide for additive-free organic solar cells

A fully fused small molecule acceptor containing angular-shaped S,N-heteroacene and perylene diimide was synthesized and employed as a non-fullerene acceptor for additive-free organic solar cells.

Electron Acceptors With a Truxene Core and Perylene Diimide Branches for Organic Solar Cells: The Effect of Ring-Fusion

In this work, a star-shaped planar acceptor named FTr-3PDI was synthesized via ring-fusion between truxene core and three bay-linked perylene diimide (PDI) branches. Compared to the unfused non-planar acceptor Tr-3PDI, FTr-3PDI exhibits better structural rigidity and planarity, as well as more effective conjugation between truxene core and PDI branches. As a result, FTr-3PDI shows up-shifted energy levels, enhanced light absorption coefficient, increased electron mobility, and more favorable phase separation morphology in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) blend films as compared to Tr-3PDI. Consequently, FTr-3PDI afforded higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) in BHJ solar cells when blended with a polymer donor PTB7-Th. This work demonstrates that ring-fusion is a promising molecular design strategy to combine the merits of truxene and PDI for non-fullerene acceptors used in organic solar cells.

Novel Star-Shaped Helical Perylene Diimide Electron Acceptors for Efficient Additive-Free Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells

Two star-shaped helical perylene diimide (PDI) electron acceptors TPDI2 and FTPDI2 were designed and synthesized for nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs). The integration of helical PDIs into a three-dimensional structure provides a new strategy to tune the intermolecular interactions, and the as-cast blend films with PTB7-Th show favorable morphology as well as efficient charge transfer and separation, as evidenced by the morphology and femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) spectroscopy studies. A trade-off between suppressing the self-aggregation and maintaining the charge-transfer properties was achieved by FTPDI2. Using PTB7-Th as the electron donor, the FTPDI2-based nonfullerene OSCs show a high power conversion efficiency of 8.28%, without the assistance of any additives.

Carbocyclization approaches to electron-deficient nanographenes and their analogues

Versatile π-aromatic building blocks and selective coupling transformations enable rapid assembly of complex electron-deficient molecules, useful as n-type organic semiconductors.