Abstract
The power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) could benefit from systematic studies to improve bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology by modifying donor compounds. Supramolecular self-assembly is an attractive strategy to combine the beneficial properties of polymeric donors, such as a well-controlled morphology, with the homogeneous composition of small molecule donors for OSCs. We report here on two tripodal "star-shaped" small-molecule donor compounds based on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) side chains for solution-processed BHJ OSCs. The tripod molecules were found not to aggregate in solution or form crystalline domains in thin films when a branched alkyl chain (2-ethylhexyl) substituent was used, whereas linear (docedecyl) alkyl chains promote the formation of one-dimensional (1D) nanowires and more crystalline domains in the solid state. We demonstrate that the 1D self-assembly of these tripods enhances the performance of the corresponding solution-processed OSCs by 50%, which is attributed to the significant increase in the fill factor of devices resulting from a reduction of trap states.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3602-3611 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Physical Chemistry C |
| Volume | 120 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 25 2016 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Energy(all)
Cite this
Self-Assembling Tripodal Small-Molecule Donors for Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells. / Aytun, Taner; Santos, Peter J.; Bruns, Carson J.; Huang, Dongxu; Koltonow, Andrew R.; Olvera De La Cruz, Monica; Stupp, Samuel I.
In: Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 120, No. 7, 25.02.2016, p. 3602-3611.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-Assembling Tripodal Small-Molecule Donors for Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells
AU - Aytun, Taner
AU - Santos, Peter J.
AU - Bruns, Carson J.
AU - Huang, Dongxu
AU - Koltonow, Andrew R.
AU - Olvera De La Cruz, Monica
AU - Stupp, Samuel I
PY - 2016/2/25
Y1 - 2016/2/25
N2 - The power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) could benefit from systematic studies to improve bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology by modifying donor compounds. Supramolecular self-assembly is an attractive strategy to combine the beneficial properties of polymeric donors, such as a well-controlled morphology, with the homogeneous composition of small molecule donors for OSCs. We report here on two tripodal "star-shaped" small-molecule donor compounds based on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) side chains for solution-processed BHJ OSCs. The tripod molecules were found not to aggregate in solution or form crystalline domains in thin films when a branched alkyl chain (2-ethylhexyl) substituent was used, whereas linear (docedecyl) alkyl chains promote the formation of one-dimensional (1D) nanowires and more crystalline domains in the solid state. We demonstrate that the 1D self-assembly of these tripods enhances the performance of the corresponding solution-processed OSCs by 50%, which is attributed to the significant increase in the fill factor of devices resulting from a reduction of trap states.
AB - The power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) could benefit from systematic studies to improve bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology by modifying donor compounds. Supramolecular self-assembly is an attractive strategy to combine the beneficial properties of polymeric donors, such as a well-controlled morphology, with the homogeneous composition of small molecule donors for OSCs. We report here on two tripodal "star-shaped" small-molecule donor compounds based on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) side chains for solution-processed BHJ OSCs. The tripod molecules were found not to aggregate in solution or form crystalline domains in thin films when a branched alkyl chain (2-ethylhexyl) substituent was used, whereas linear (docedecyl) alkyl chains promote the formation of one-dimensional (1D) nanowires and more crystalline domains in the solid state. We demonstrate that the 1D self-assembly of these tripods enhances the performance of the corresponding solution-processed OSCs by 50%, which is attributed to the significant increase in the fill factor of devices resulting from a reduction of trap states.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84959273329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b10064
DO - 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b10064
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84959273329
VL - 120
SP - 3602
EP - 3611
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
SN - 1932-7447
IS - 7
ER -