Diketopyrrolopyrroles as acceptor materials in organic photovoltaics.

In the search of new electron acceptor, n-type materials for organic solar cells that combine a strong absorption over a broad range with good electrical characteristics, the use of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) derivatives with low reduction potentials is explored. A series of small molecule DPP derivatives is presented and the compounds are tested as electron acceptors in combination with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the donor material. Working photovoltaic devices are obtained that show a photoresponse in the wavelength region where the DPP molecules absorb. The best device shows a power conversion efficiency of 0.31% in simulated solar light, with a photon-to-electron conversion efficiency of ∼10% up to 700 nm. The efficiency seems to be limited by the coarse morphology of the blend.

[1]  V. Mihailetchi,et al.  Space-charge limited photocurrent. , 2005, Physical review letters.

[2]  Thuc‐Quyen Nguyen,et al.  Design, Synthesis, and Self-assembly of Oligothiophene Derivatives with a Diketopyrrolopyrrole Core , 2008 .

[3]  Thuc‐Quyen Nguyen,et al.  A low band gap, solution processable oligothiophene with a dialkylated diketopyrrolopyrrole chromophore for use in bulk heterojunction solar cells , 2009 .

[4]  P. Blom,et al.  Origin of the Reduced Fill Factor and Photocurrent in MDMO‐PPV:PCNEPV All‐Polymer Solar Cells , 2007 .

[5]  J. Kroon,et al.  Efficient polymer:polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells , 2006 .

[6]  Bernard Kippelen,et al.  A high-mobility electron-transport polymer with broad absorption and its use in field-effect transistors and all-polymer solar cells. , 2007, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[7]  Mm Martijn Wienk,et al.  Narrow‐Bandgap Diketo‐Pyrrolo‐Pyrrole Polymer Solar Cells: The Effect of Processing on the Performance , 2008 .

[8]  Nelson E. Coates,et al.  Bulk heterojunction solar cells with internal quantum efficiency approaching 100 , 2009 .

[9]  D. D. de Leeuw,et al.  Poly(diketopyrrolopyrrole-terthiophene) for ambipolar logic and photovoltaics. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[10]  Raj René Janssen,et al.  The Energy of Charge‐Transfer States in Electron Donor–Acceptor Blends: Insight into the Energy Losses in Organic Solar Cells , 2009 .

[11]  Gang Li,et al.  Highly efficient solar cell polymers developed via fine-tuning of structural and electronic properties. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[12]  Richard H. Friend,et al.  Dual electron donor/electron acceptor character of a conjugated polymer in efficient photovoltaic diodes , 2007 .

[13]  Gang Li,et al.  For the Bright Future—Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells with Power Conversion Efficiency of 7.4% , 2010, Advanced materials.

[14]  H. Sirringhaus,et al.  Integrated optoelectronic devices based on conjugated polymers , 1998, Science.

[15]  M. Leclerc,et al.  Synthesis and Characterization of New Low-Bandgap Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Copolymers , 2009 .

[16]  M. Turbiez,et al.  High‐Mobility Ambipolar Near‐Infrared Light‐Emitting Polymer Field‐Effect Transistors , 2008 .

[17]  Paul A. van Hal,et al.  Efficient methano[70]fullerene/MDMO-PPV bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells. , 2003, Angewandte Chemie.

[18]  Gang Li,et al.  Synthesis of a low band gap polymer and its application in highly efficient polymer solar cells. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[19]  Chain‐Shu Hsu,et al.  Synthesis of conjugated polymers for organic solar cell applications. , 2009, Chemical reviews.

[20]  Zhenan Bao,et al.  Soluble and processable regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) for thin film field‐effect transistor applications with high mobility , 1996 .

[21]  Thuc-Quyen Nguyen,et al.  Nanoscale Phase Separation and High Photovoltaic Efficiency in Solution‐Processed, Small‐Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells , 2009 .

[22]  Kazuhito Hashimoto,et al.  Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Semiconducting Polymer for Photovoltaic Device with Photocurrent Response Wavelengths up to 1.1 μm , 2010 .

[23]  Thuc‐Quyen Nguyen,et al.  A Low Band Gap, Solution Processable Oligothiophene with a Diketopyrrolopyrrole Core for Use in Organic Solar Cells , 2008 .