Exploiting Noncovalently Conformational Locking as a Design Strategy for High Performance Fused-Ring Electron Acceptor Used in Polymer Solar Cells

J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Mar 8;139(9):3356-3359. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b00566. Epub 2017 Feb 24.

Abstract

We have developed a kind of novel fused-ring small molecular acceptor, whose planar conformation can be locked by intramolecular noncovalent interaction. The formation of planar supramolecular fused-ring structure by conformation locking can effectively broaden its absorption spectrum, enhance the electron mobility, and reduce the nonradiative energy loss. Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on this acceptor afforded a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.6%. In contrast, PSCs based on similar acceptor, which cannot form a flat conformation, only gave a PCE of 2.3%. Such design strategy, which can make the synthesis of small molecular acceptor much easier, will be promising in developing a new acceptor for high efficiency polymer solar cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't