Issue 24, 2023

Nitrofluorene-based A–D–A electron acceptors for organic photovoltaics

Abstract

We explored nitrofluorene derivatives as tunable electron-withdrawing groups for acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A) type non-fullerene acceptors. Their optoelectronic properties and performance in bulk heterojunction solar cells with PBDB-T donor polymer are reported. Introducing up to four nitro groups to the fluorene unit results in deeper frontier orbital levels, reduced HOMO–LUMO gap and red-shifted absorption bands. Optimal device performance was achieved for trinitrofluorene acceptors with a solubilizing ester group in the trade-off between decreased voltage and increased photocurrent. 2D brickwork packing of the tetranitrofluorene derivative found by single crystal X-ray analysis is different from the interpenetrating 3D network found for high-efficiency A–D–A acceptors and might be the reason for the poor charge transport properties. Steric hindrance between benzothiadiazole and nitrofluorene units can be relieved by the use of furan linkers, which planarized the conjugated backbone but decreased solubility.

Graphical abstract: Nitrofluorene-based A–D–A electron acceptors for organic photovoltaics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Dec 2022
Accepted
23 Feb 2023
First published
27 Feb 2023

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023,11, 8186-8195

Nitrofluorene-based A–D–A electron acceptors for organic photovoltaics

Y. Che, M. R. Niazi, T. Yu, T. Maris, C. Liu, D. Ma, R. Izquierdo, I. F. Perepichka and D. F. Perepichka, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 8186 DOI: 10.1039/D2TC05127C

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