Issue 8, 2018

Understanding the side-chain effects on A–D–A acceptors: in-plane and out-of-plane

Abstract

Systematic side-chain engineering on nonacyclic acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A) nonfullerene acceptors, NNFA[n, m], was carried out. “n” and “m” stand for the number of alkyl carbon atoms in the in-plane and out-of-plane side chains, respectively. Five acceptors, NNFA[0, 6], NNFA[6, 3], NNFA[6, 6], NNFA[12, 3] and NNFA[12, 6], were prepared and applied in organic solar cells by blending with a wide-bandgap copolymer donor (FTAZ). The alkyl chains substantially affect the NNFAs’ solubility and photovoltaic performance. The solubility varies from 23 mg mL−1 to 226 mg mL−1 in chloroform when changing the total alkyl carbons (2n + 4m). If the total alkyl carbons are equal, the NNFA with longer out-of-plane alkyl chains (higher “m”) shows higher solubility than that with longer in-plane alkyl chains (higher “n”). NNFA[6, 6] and NNFA[12, 3] with medium solubility (∼100 mg mL−1) present suitable miscibility with FTAZ, and afford more favorable morphology and higher device performance than other NNFAs. FTAZ:NNFA[12, 3] solar cells gave the highest power conversion efficiency of 10.81%.

Graphical abstract: Understanding the side-chain effects on A–D–A acceptors: in-plane and out-of-plane

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
15 May 2018
Accepted
17 Jun 2018
First published
19 Jun 2018

Mater. Chem. Front., 2018,2, 1563-1567

Understanding the side-chain effects on A–D–A acceptors: in-plane and out-of-plane

Q. Liu, Z. Xiao, T. Li, S. Yang, W. You, M. Wang and L. Ding, Mater. Chem. Front., 2018, 2, 1563 DOI: 10.1039/C8QM00238J

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