Issue 32, 2017

A stereoregular β-dicyanodistyrylbenzene (β-DCS)-based conjugated polymer for high-performance organic solar cells with small energy loss and high quantum efficiency

Abstract

A challenge in organic solar cell (OSC) research is the minimization of the photon energy loss (Eloss), which limits the power conversion efficiency (PCE). Here, we describe the development of a new stereoregular β-dicyanodistyrylbenzene (β-DCS)-based polymer (PBDCS), consisting of trans-isomeric β-DCS and two-dimensional benzodithiophene (2D-BDT), that has a deep HOMO of −5.59 eV and a low band gap of 1.75 eV. Interestingly, PBDCS exhibited 100% trans-stereoregularity and, because of its unique resonance structure and aggregation properties, no trans-to-cis photoisomerization on exposure to UV light. Subsequently, an OSC based on PBDCS:PC71BM was found to have a JSC of 15 mA cm−2 and a high VOC of 0.95 V, resulting in a relatively low Eloss of 0.80 eV with an EQEmax of 82.7%, and a PCE of 8.75%. Furthermore, the OSC based on PBDCS:ITIC exhibited a PCE of 7.81% with a remarkably high VOC of 1.08 V and a JSC of 15.9 mA cm−2. In addition, the OSC has an extremely small Eloss of 0.49 eV despite the high EQEmax of 74.2%. This Eloss is the smallest Eloss value in an efficient OSC. In addition, these results suggest that β-DCS is a suitable acceptor moiety for OSCs with small Eloss values.

Graphical abstract: A stereoregular β-dicyanodistyrylbenzene (β-DCS)-based conjugated polymer for high-performance organic solar cells with small energy loss and high quantum efficiency

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 May 2017
Accepted
11 Jul 2017
First published
12 Jul 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 16681-16688

A stereoregular β-dicyanodistyrylbenzene (β-DCS)-based conjugated polymer for high-performance organic solar cells with small energy loss and high quantum efficiency

J. Park, D. W. Kim, H. Y. Chung, J. E. Kwon, S. H. Hong, T. Choi and S. Y. Park, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 16681 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA04127F

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