Non-fullerene acceptors: exciton dissociation with PTCDA versus C60

Abstract

Extensive development of new polymer and small molecule donors has helped produce a steady increase in the efficiency of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. However, OPV technology would also benefit from the introduction of non-fullerene acceptors. Unfortunately, efforts to replace fullerenes have typically led to significantly reduced efficiencies. A number of possible explanations for reduced efficiencies with non-fullerene acceptors compared to fullerene acceptors have been suggested, including the formation of unfavorable morphologies in non-fullerene systems and/or favorable excitation/carrier delocalization in fullerenes. In addition, enhanced exciton dissociation associated with fundamental characteristics of the fullerene molecular electronic states has also been suggested. We used time-resolved two-photon photoemission (TR-2PPE) to directly compare exciton dissociation at interfaces between zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) interfaces and the non-fullerene acceptor, perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) versus dissociation measured at the analogous interface with C₆₀, and thus help discriminate between these potential explanations. Exciton dissociation rates are comparable for phthalocyanine interfaces with both acceptors, allowing us to suggest a hierarchy for the importance of various effects producing higher efficiencies with fullerene acceptors.