Recent progress in porphyrin- and phthalocyanine-containing perovskite solar cells

In this review, we summarize the application of porphyrins and phthalocyanines in perovskite solar cells to date. Since the first porphyrin- and phthalocyanine-based perovskite solar cells were reported in 2009, their power conversion efficiency has dramatically increased from 3.9% to over 20%. Porphyrins and phthalocyanines have mostly been used as the charge selective layers in these cells. In some cases, they have been used inside the perovskite photoactive layer to form two-dimensional perovskite structures. In other cases, they were used at the interface to engineer the surface energy level. This review gives a chronological introduction to the application of porphyrins and phthalocyanines for perovskite solar cells depending on their role. This review article also provides the history of porphyrin and phthalocyanine derivative development from the perspective of perovskite solar cell applications.

Synthesis of Novel 3,6-Dithienyl Diketopyrrolopyrrole Dyes by Direct C‒H Arylation

Direct C-H arylation coupling is potentially a more economical and sustainable process than conventional cross-coupling. However, this method has found limited application in the synthesis of organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Although direct C-H arylation is not an universal solution to any cross-coupling reactions, it efficiently complements conventional sp²−sp² bond formation and can provide shorter and more efficient routes to diketopyrrolopyrrole dyes. Here, we have applied palladium catalyzed direct C-H arylation in the synthesis of five new 3,6-dithienyl diketopyrrolopyrrole dyes. All prepared sensitizers display broad absorption from 350 nm up to 800 nm with high molar extinction coefficients. The dye-sensitized solar cells based on these dyes exhibit a power conversion efficiency in the range of 2.9 to 3.4%.

Dithienopyrrole Derivatives with Nitronyl Nitroxide Radicals and Their Oxidation to Cationic High-Spin Molecules

Three 1 N‐phenyl nitronyl nitroxide (NN) 4‐substituted dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrrole (DTP) derivatives with R1=4‐phenyl‐, 4H‐, and 4‐methylthiothiophenyl‐ (R¹₂DTP‐Ph‐NN, R¹=H, Ph and MeSTh) were designed, synthesized and characterized. The electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). All the molecules exhibited two main oxidation peaks, first for radical cation and next for dication formation. The cation and dication formation were also confirmed by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy for Ph₂DTP‐Ph‐NN and MeSTh₂DTP‐Ph‐NN titrated with tris(4‐bromophenyl)aminiumhexachloroantimonate (magic blue). In addition, the cation and dication formation were verified by EPR spectroscopy. Finally, the exchange interactions (J/k_B) of NN and radical cation were calculated by DFT studies.

Selenophene-containing heterotriacenes by a C-Se coupling/cyclization reaction

A new novel family of tricyclic sulfur and/or selenium-containing heterotriacenes 2-4 with an increasing number of selenium (Se) atoms is presented. The heterotriacene derivatives were synthesized in multistep synthetic routes and the crucial cyclization steps to the stable and soluble fused systems were achieved by copper-catalyzed C-S and C-Se coupling/cyclization reactions. Structures and packing motifs in the solid state were elucidated by single crystal X-ray analysis and XRD powder measurements. Comparison of the optoelectronic properties provides interesting structure-property relationships and gives valuable insights into the role of heteroatoms within the series of the heterotriacenes. Electrooxidative polymerization led to the corresponding poly(heterotriacene)s P2-P4.

Synthesis of Dithienocyclohexanones (DTCHs) as a Family of Building Blocks for π-Conjugated Compounds in Organic Electronics

The development and widespread application of organic electronic devices require the availability of simple and cost-effective suitable materials. In this study, the preparation of a new class of conjugated compounds on the basis of a dithienocyclohexanone (DTCH) core is reported. Several synthetic strategies for the preparation of dialkyl DTCH derivatives are explored, with special emphasis on the establishment of a sustainable synthetic access. Two successful synthetic pathways, both consisting of five steps, are identified: the first one featuring readily available 3-thiophenecarboxaldeyde and the second one 3-ethynylthiophene as the starting materials. Both procedures are characterized by reasonably high overall yields (over 30%) and remarkably low E factors (<400). Preliminary evidences of the use of such building blocks in the micellar Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions leading to promising molecular semiconductors are also given. Moreover, on a small molecule containing DTCH moiety, solar cell performance was investigated.

Singlet Fission via an Excimer-Like Intermediate in 3,6-Bis(thiophen-2-yl)diketopyrrolopyrrole Derivatives

Singlet fission (SF) in polycrystalline thin films of four 3,6-bis(thiophen-2-yl)diketopyrrolopyrrole (TDPP) chromophores with methyl (Me), n-hexyl (C6), triethylene glycol (TEG), and 2-ethylhexyl (EH) substituents at the 2,5-positions is found to involve an intermediate excimer-like state. The four different substituents yield four distinct intermolecular packing geometries, resulting in variable intermolecular charge transfer (CT) interactions in the solid. SF from the excimer state of Me, C6, TEG, and EH takes place in τSF = 22, 336, 195, and 1200 ps, respectively, to give triplet yields of 200%, 110%, 110%, and 70%, respectively. The transient spectra of the excimer-like state and its energetic proximity to the lowest excited singlet state in these derivatives suggests that this state may be the multiexciton (1)(T1T1) state that precedes formation of the uncorrelated triplet excitons. The excimer decay rates correlate well with the SF efficiencies and the degree of intermolecular donor-acceptor interactions resulting from π-stacking of the thiophene donor of one molecule with the DPP core acceptor in another molecule as observed in the crystal structures. Such interactions are found to also increase with the SF coupling energies, as calculated for each derivative. These structural and spectroscopic studies afford a better understanding of the electronic interactions that enhance SF in chromophores having strong intra- and intermolecular CT character.

Charge transport network dynamics in molecular aggregates

Due to the nonperiodic nature of charge transport in disordered systems, generating insight into static charge transport networks, as well as analyzing the network dynamics, can be challenging. Here, we apply time-dependent network analysis to scrutinize the charge transport networks of two representative molecular semiconductors: a rigid n-type molecule, perylenediimide, and a flexible p-type molecule, [Formula: see text] Simulations reveal the relevant timescale for local transfer integral decorrelation to be [Formula: see text]100 fs, which is shown to be faster than that of a crystalline morphology of the same molecule. Using a simple graph metric, global network changes are observed over timescales competitive with charge carrier lifetimes. These insights demonstrate that static charge transport networks are qualitatively inadequate, whereas average networks often overestimate network connectivity. Finally, a simple methodology for tracking dynamic charge transport properties is proposed.

High-Efficiency Small Molecule-Based Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells Enhanced by Additive Annealing

Solvent additive processing is important in optimizing an active layer's morphology and thus improving the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, we find that how 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) additive is removed plays a critical role in determining the film morphology of the bulk heterojunction OSCs in inverted structure based on a porphyrin small molecule. Different from the cases reported for polymer-based OSCs in conventional structures, the inverted OSCs upon the quick removal of the additive either by quick vacuuming or methanol washing exhibit poorer performance. In contrast, the devices after keeping the active layers in ambient pressure with additive dwelling for about 1 h (namely, additive annealing) show an enhanced power conversion efficiency up to 7.78% with a large short circuit current of 19.25 mA/cm(2), which are among the best in small molecule-based solar cells. The detailed morphology analyses using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, resonant soft X-ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy demonstrate that the active layer shows smaller-sized phase separation but improved structure order upon additive annealing. On the contrary, the quick removal of the additive either by quick vacuuming or methanol washing keeps the active layers in an earlier stage of large scaled phase separation.

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.

The Next Breakthrough for Organic Photovoltaics?

While the intense focus on energy level tuning in organic photovoltaic materials has afforded large gains in device performance, we argue here that strategies based on microstructural/morphological control are at least as promising in any rational design strategy. In this work, a meta-analysis of ∼150 bulk heterojunction devices fabricated with different materials combinations is performed and reveals strong correlations between power conversion efficiency and morphology-dominated properties (short-circuit current, fill factor) and surprisingly weak correlations between efficiency and energy level positioning (open-circuit voltage, enthalpic offset at the interface, optical gap). While energy level positioning should in principle provide the theoretical maximum efficiency, the optimization landscape that must be navigated to reach this maximum is unforgiving. Thus, research aimed at developing understanding-based strategies for more efficient optimization of an active layer microstructure and morphology are likely to be at least as fruitful.

Small molecules based on thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione for high open-circuit voltage (VOC) organic photovoltaics: effect of different positions of alkyl substitution on molecular packing and photovoltaic performance

Two different thienopyrroledione (TPD)-based small molecules (SMs) with different alkyl substitution positions were synthesized, and their photovoltaic properties are measured and compared to examine the effect of the alkyl substitution position on their optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties. The use of TPD as an electron-accepting unit in conjugated SMs effectively lowers the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels of the conjugated SMs and leads to high open-circuit voltage (VOC). The two SMs with n-hexyl group substituted at different positions exhibit almost identical optical and electrochemical properties in the pristine state. However, the crystallographic and morphological characteristics of the two SMs are significantly different, because they are blended with PC71BM. The SM in which n-alkyl groups are substituted at the central accepting unit exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.0% with VOC=0.94 V, which is among the highest PCE values of TPD-based SM devices, whereas the SM with n-alkyl groups being substituted at the chain ends shows a moderate PCE value of 3.1%.

Morphological effects on the small-molecule-based solution-processed organic solar cells

We report a proof-of-concept study on solution-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) based on [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) and structurally compact donor molecules which have dithiophene-phenazine-dithiophene (TH-P) and dithiophene-quinoxaline-dithiophene (TH-Q) configurations with decyloxy and methyl side groups, respectively. These molecules formed one-dimensional fibers through self-assembly via weak nonbonding interactions such as π-π and van der Waals interactions even during a fast solvent removal process such as spin-casting. Photophysical and thermal properties of the new donor molecules were characterized with UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical data determined experimentally were correlated well with theoretical evaluations. The fibers from the two donor molecules showed distinct morphological differences, allowing for in-depth investigations into their influence on the OSC performance. A continuous three-dimensional network of endless one-dimensional nanofibers, with a width of 300-400 nm, were formed from TH-P regardless of the presence of PC61BM, affording spontaneous nanoscale phase separation that facilitates a large donor/acceptor interfacial area. Bulk (BHJ) and planar heterojunctions (PHJ) from TH-P/PC61BM showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.38% and 0.30%, respectively, under optimum device conditions. Post thermal annealing led to the increased domain size and a major decrease in Jsc. Meanwhile, shorter, more rigid needles with a large thickness variation were formed from TH-Q. A continuous network of TH-Q was obtained by spin-coating only in the presence of PC61BM, and the PCE of TH-Q/PC61BM BHJ was found to be 0.36%. However, the PHJ showed poor device performance due to TH-Q's inability to form a continuous film by spin-coating. The present study suggests a basic molecular architecture to drive one-dimensional assembly and demonstrates the significance of fibrillation for small-molecule-based OSCs.