Issue 27, 2016

A simple perylene diimide derivative with a highly twisted geometry as an electron acceptor for efficient organic solar cells

Abstract

Perylene diimide (PDI), which features intense absorption, a low-lying energy level, and high electron mobility, is a promising building block for electron acceptors in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, this planar molecule has a strong tendency to form large aggregates during film formation which strongly limits its OSC performance. Herein, we report a new and simple PDI derivative, B(PDI)3, in which a central benzene unit is employed to connect three PDI arms. This compact arrangement of sterically bulky PDI moieties leads to a twisted molecular geometry of the resultant structure. This suppresses the strong crystallization tendency of PDI chromophores, owing to the broken molecular coplanarity and symmetry. Therefore, B(PDI)3 is applied as a non-fullerene acceptor in OSCs, providing a good power conversion efficiency of 5.65% when blended with the PTB7-Th donor.

Graphical abstract: A simple perylene diimide derivative with a highly twisted geometry as an electron acceptor for efficient organic solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 5 2016
Accepted
13 6 2016
First published
14 6 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 10659-10665

A simple perylene diimide derivative with a highly twisted geometry as an electron acceptor for efficient organic solar cells

S. Li, W. Liu, C. Li, F. Liu, Y. Zhang, M. Shi, H. Chen and T. P. Russell, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 10659 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA04232E

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