Synthesis and photovoltaic response of a solution-processable dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole-based molecular semiconductor with thienylvinylthienyl endgroups

Chun-Hui Zhang; Wan-Yi Tan; Li-Ping Wang; Qing-Duan Li; Rui Zhou; Ju Huang; Xin-Feng Wei; Yan Xia; Yi-Feng He; Xu-Hui Zhu; Junbiao Peng; Yong Cao

doi:10.1117/1.JPE.5.057211

28 January 2015 Synthesis and photovoltaic response of a solution-processable dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole-based molecular semiconductor with thienylvinylthienyl endgroups

Chun-Hui Zhang, Wan-Yi Tan, Li-Ping Wang, Qing-Duan Li, Rui Zhou, Ju Huang, Xin-Feng Wei, Yan Xia, Yi-Feng He, Xu-Hui Zhu, Junbiao Peng, Yong Cao

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Photonics for Energy, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 057211 (January 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.5.057211

Abstract

We describe the synthesis and preliminary photovoltaic performance of a solution-processable organic small-molecule electron donor DT-DPP(TVT)₂ that consists of dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole (DT-DPP) as the core and thienylvinylthiophene (TVT) as the endgroups. The new compound is a crystalline solid with a T_m of approximately 216°C. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that DT-DPP(TVT)₂ exhibits two quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation waves at ca. 0.68 and 0.90 V versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, respectively, leading to an estimated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of about −5.08 eV. Introducing the branched 2-hexyldecyl side chain provides DT-DPP(TVT)₂ with a high solubility in chloroform up to ca. 36 mg mL⁻¹ at room temperature. Thermal annealing increases the crystallinity of the as-cast film from chloroform solution, thereby rendering slightly red-shifted charge-transfer absorption maxima. Fitting the space-charge-limited current characteristics of the thermally annealed thin film yields an improved hole mobility of ∼2.14×10⁻⁴ cm²V⁻¹ s⁻¹ at low voltages versus ∼1.46×10⁻⁴ cm² V⁻¹s⁻¹ of the as-cast film. A first characterization of the solar cell [ITO/PEDOT: PSS/DT-DPP(TVT)₂: PC₆₁BM/Al] produces a power conversion efficiency of ∼3% with V_OC≈0.78 V, J_SC≈7.91 mA cm⁻², and FF≈48.7%, under simulated AM1.5G with an illumination intensity of 100 mW cm⁻². It should be noted that the thermal effect on the thin film absorption of DT-DPP(TVT)₂ does not seem to be completely similar to the molecular donor DPP(TFNa)₂ reported earlier, which bears 6-fluoronaphthyl endgroups.

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Chun-Hui Zhang, Wan-Yi Tan, Li-Ping Wang, Qing-Duan Li, Rui Zhou, Ju Huang, Xin-Feng Wei, Yan Xia, Yi-Feng He, Xu-Hui Zhu, Junbiao Peng, and Yong Cao "Synthesis and photovoltaic response of a solution-processable dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole-based molecular semiconductor with thienylvinylthienyl endgroups," Journal of Photonics for Energy 5(1), 057211 (28 January 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.5.057211

Published: 28 January 2015

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