Synthesis and photophysical properties of N-alkyl dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole based donor/acceptor-π-conjugated copolymers for solar-cell application

Two kinds of donor-acceptor π-conjugated copolymer based on poly{[N-hexyl-dithieno(3,2-b:2',3'-d)pyrrole-2,6-diyl]alt-[isoindigo]} (PDTP-IID) and poly{[N-hexyl-dithieno(3,2-b:2',3'-d)pyrrole-2,6-diyl]alt-[thiazol-2,5-diyl]} (PDTP-Thz) were investigated. These copolymers were synthesized via a Stille coupling reaction. The results showed the structure-property relationships of different donor-acceptor (D-A) combinations. The polymer structures and photophysical properties were characterized by 1H NMR, TGA, DSC, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, AFM, CV, and XRD measurement. Through UV-vis absorption and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, it showed that the copolymers exhibit not only a low bandgap of 1.29 eV and 1.51 eV but also a deep highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of -5.49 and -5.11 eV. Moreover, photovoltaic properties in combination with the fullerene derivatives were investigated. The device based on the copolymers with PC71BM exhibited higher maximum power conversion efficiency and higher maximum short-circuit current density of 0.23% with 1.64 mA cm-2 of PDTP-IID:PC71BM and 0.13% with 1.11 mA cm-2 of PDTP-Thz:PC71BM than those of the copolymers with PC61BM. Measurements performed for N-hexyl-dithieno(3,2-b:2',3'-d)pyrrole-based copolymers proved the potential of these polymers to be applied in optoelectronic applications.

Enhanced photovoltaic performance of donor polymers effected by asymmetric π-bridges

Asymmetric π-bridge-based donor polymers produced via a simple one-pot chemical synthesis method exhibit enhanced photovoltaic performance.

Assessing Effects of Different π bridges on Properties of Random Benzodithiophene-thienothiophene Donor and Non-fullerene Acceptor Based Active Layer

This report presents the effect of insertion of four different π bridges, furan, thienothiophene, thiophene, and thiazole, into a random benzodithiophene (BDT)-fluorinated-thienothiophene (TT-F) based donor. Starting from a structure of synthesized donor (D)-acceptor (A) random copolymer with 3:1 ratio, we have designed four D-π-A systems with four different π bridges. Structural, optoelectronic, and charge transport/transfer properties of these donors and donor/NDI (NDI = poly[N,N'-bis(2-hexyldecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)) blends are investigated using DFT and TD-DFT methodologies. Our results show that the thiazole based TzP1 oligomer has the deepest HOMO value resulting in the highest open circuit voltage among all systems. The maximum absorption wavelengths of π-linked systems are red-shifted compared to the parent molecule. Rates of charge transfer and charge recombination are the highest and smallest in case of the thiazole/NDI blend system. In addition, hole mobilities in thiophene, thienothiophene, and thiazole based systems are larger than in the parent system. The results indicate that the thiazole unit among the four π bridge units is the most suitable for active layer construction.

Subtle Side Chain Triggers Unexpected Two-Channel Charge Transport Property Enabling 80% Fill Factors and Efficient Thick-Film Organic Photovoltaics

To clearly show how important the impact of side chains on organic solar cells (OSCs) is, we designed three acceptors IDIC-CxPh (x = 4, 5, or 6) via subtle side-chain regulation. Despite this small change, significant distinctions were detected. IDIC-C4Ph devices achieve an optimal efficiency of 13.94% under thermal annealing, but thermal-assistant solvent-vapor annealing hugely suppresses the efficiencies to 10%. However, the C6Ph side chain endows extremely disordered stacking orientations, generating moderate efficiencies of ~12.50%. Excitingly, the IDIC-C5Ph affords an unexpected two-channel π-π charge transport (TCCT) property, boosting the fill factor (FF) by up to 80.02% and efficiency to 14.56%, ranking the best among five-ring fused-ladder-type acceptors. Impressively, the special TCCT behavior of IDIC-C5Ph enables 470 nm thick-film OSC with a high FF of up to 70.12% and efficiency of 13.01%, demonstrating the great promise in fabricating large-scale OSCs.

Reduced Energy Loss in Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells with Isomeric Donor Polymers Containing Thiazole π-Spacers

Large energy loss is one of the key factors that limit the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this work, we report reduced energy losses of OSCs via introducing thiazole π-spacers with different orientations to replace the thiophene π-spacers of the prototype polymer PBDB-T. The newly formed thiazole-containing isomeric polymers, PBDBTz-2 and PBDBTz-5, exhibited blue-shifted absorption and deeper lying energy levels compared to PBDB-T. When blended with IT-4F, the two polymers realized PCEs of 10.4% for PBDBTz-2 and 9.6% for PBDBTz-5, respectively, which were higher than that of PBDB-T (PCE = 9.3%). More critically, considerable open-circuit voltage (V_oc) enhancements were achieved by PBDBTz-2 and PBDBTz-5, which were 0.14 and 0.21 V higher than that of PBDB-T. A detailed analysis showed that the reduced energy loss resulted from the lower radiative recombination below the band gap and nonradiative recombination loss. This study demonstrated that the introduction of thiazole π-spacers with different orientations is effective to reduce the energy losses of OSCs, which provided valuable inspirations for the development of new conjugated polymers to the efficiency breakthrough of OSCs in future.

Thiazole-substituted non-symmetrical metallophthalocyanines: synthesis, characterization, electrochemical and heavy metal ion sensing properties

Novel non-symmetrical metallophthalocyanines with a thiazole functional group were prepared. Their redox properties and heavy metal ion sensing performances were fully investigated.

Fuse the π-Bridge to Acceptor Moiety of Donor-π-Acceptor Conjugated Polymer: Enabling an All-Round Enhancement in Photovoltaic Parameters of Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells

The D-π-A conjugated polymers with a benzotriazole (BTz) unit as the A moiety have been intensively investigated as donor materials in nonfullerene solar cells. However, these BTz even the fluorinated-BTz constructed D-π-A polymers mostly suffered from upward highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels, leading to inferior open-circuit voltage (V_OC) and efficiencies in the fabricated solar cells. Herein, we explored a new approach in response to this issue via the strategy of π-bridge fusion to A moiety. As a result, the medium band gap D-π-A polymer PY2 was evolved into wide band gap D-A polymer PY1 with fused-DTBTz as the new A moiety, accompanied with a greatly declined HOMO energy level by 0.26 eV, a remarkable blue-shifted absorption onset by about 51 nm, and concurrently moderately enhanced face-on stacking orientations in neat polymer and donor/acceptor blend films. The synergetic optimizations in energy level, absorption characteristic and molecular stacking feature via the π-bridge fusion design witness an all-round improvement in photovoltaic parameters including the focused V_OC, short-circuit current density (J_SC), and fill factor (FF), with narrow band gap ITIC as the acceptor material. Specifically, the PY1-based solar cells produce an optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.49%, with superior V_OC of 0.94 V, J_SC of 18.46 mA cm^-2, and FF of 0.72, significantly surpassing those of PY2-based optimal device with a PCE of 7.39%, V_OC of 0.77 V, J_SC of 14.54 mA cm^-2, and FF of 0.66 and even the reported classical fluorinated-BTz based polymer J51 (V_OC of 0.82 V, PCE of 9.26%). Promisingly, there is a huge room for improvement in photovoltaic properties with rational fluorination or chlorination of the fused-DTBTz unit or the D moiety of the D-A polymers.

An Electron-Transporting Thiazole-Based Polymer Synthesized Through Direct (Hetero)Arylation Polymerization

In this work, a new n-type polymer based on a thiazole-diketopyrrolopyrrole unit has been synthesized through direct (hetero)arylation polycondensation. The molar mass has been optimized by systematic variation of the the monomer concentration. Optical and electrochemical properties have been studied. They clearly suggested that this polymer possess a high electron affinity together with a very interesting absorption band, making it a good non-fullerene acceptor candidate. As a consequence, its charge transport and photovoltaic properties in a blend with the usual P3HT electron-donating polymer have been investigated.

Trithiazolyl-1,3,5-triazines bearing decyloxybenzene moieties: synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties, and self-assembly behavior

We synthesized the first members of trithiazolyl-1,3,5-triazines that combine attractive photophysical and self-assembling properties.

Dicyanobenzothiadiazole Derivatives Possessing Switchable Dielectric Permittivities

Benzothiadiazoles are important electron acceptors and are frequently employed as electron-deficient components of donor-acceptor polymers. We report the effect of nitrile functionalities on the reactivity, steric hindrance, optoelectronic properties, and dielectric permittivity in dicyanobenzothioadiazole (DCNBT). Dielectric spectroscopy in the bulk and in solution assisted by DFT-calculations revealed that these molecules can be engineered to engender maximum values of the dipole moment and of dielectric permittivity due to the strong electron-withdrawing effect of the nitrile groups. The self-assembly in the bulk was investigated by X-ray scattering performed on single crystals, fibers (2D-WAXS), and thin films (GiWAXS). Combining these results, we found a switching of dielectric permittivity of the 4,7-alkylthienyl-substituted dicyanobenzothiadiazole at the transition from the liquid crystalline to the isotropic phase with values capable of competing with the best known rodlike liquid crystals.

Impact of Backbone Fluorination on π-Conjugated Polymers in Organic Photovoltaic Devices: A Review

Solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells have experienced a remarkable acceleration in performances in the last two decades, reaching power conversion efficiencies above 10%. This impressive progress is the outcome of a simultaneous development of more advanced device architectures and of optimized semiconducting polymers. Several chemical approaches have been developed to fine-tune the optoelectronics and structural polymer parameters required to reach high efficiencies. Fluorination of the conjugated polymer backbone has appeared recently to be an especially promising approach for the development of efficient semiconducting polymers. As a matter of fact, most currently best-performing semiconducting polymers are using fluorine atoms in their conjugated backbone. In this review, we attempt to give an up-to-date overview of the latest results achieved on fluorinated polymers for solar cells and to highlight general polymer properties’ evolution trends related to the fluorination of their conjugated backbone.

Synthesis, optoelectronic properties and photovoltaic performances of wide band-gap copolymers based on dibenzosilole and quinoxaline units, rivals to P3HT

Dibenzosilole and quinoxaline based copolymers were synthesized and tested in bulk-heterojunction solar cells showing power conversion efficiencies up to 5.14%.

High open circuit voltage polymer solar cells enabled by employing thiazoles in semiconducting polymers

Introduction of thiazole into the conjugated backbone of semiconducting polymers is a useful strategy to enhance the open-circuit voltage of polymer solar cells.

Improving Photovoltaic Performance of the Linear A-Ar-A-type Small Molecules with Diketopyrropyrrole Arms by Tuning the Linkage Position of the Anthracene Core

Two isomeric A-Ar-A-type small molecules of DPP2An(9,10) and DPP2An(2,6), were synthesized with two acceptor arms of diketopyrropyrroles (DPP) and a planar aryl hydrocarbon core of the different substituted anthracene (An), respectively. Their thermal stability, crystallinity, optoelectronic, and photovoltaic performances were investigated. Significantly red-shifted absorption profile and higher HOMO level were observed for the DPP2An(2,6) with 2,6-substituted anthracene relative to the DPP2An(9,10) with 9,10-substituted anthracene, as the former exhibited better planarity and a larger conjugate system. As a result, the solution-processing solar cells based on DPP2An(2,6) and PC71BM (w/w,1:1) displayed remarkably increased power conversion efficiency of 5.44% and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 11.90 mA/cm(2) under 1% 1,8-diiodooctane additive. The PCE and Jsc values were 3.7 and 2.9 times those of the optimized DPP2An(9,10)-based cells, respectively. This work demonstrates that changing the linkage position of the anthracene core in the A-Ar-A-type SMs can strongly improve the photovoltaic properties in organic solar cells.