Improved performance of non-fullerene polymer solar cells by simple structural change of asymmetric acceptor based on indenothiophene

Cheol Hun Jeong, Young Un Kim, Chang Geun Park, Suna Choi, Min Ju Cho, Dong Hoon Choi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In this study, we have synthesized a new asymmetric n-type semiconducting molecule (Me-ITBD) by combining 4,4-bis(4-hexylphenyl)-7-methyl-6-(thiophen-2-yl)-4H-indeno[1,2-b]thiophene with 2-(benzo[c][1,2,5]-thiadiazol-4-yl methylene)-malononitrile and applied it to polymer solar cells. Compared to the PhITBD acceptor without methyl substituent in the 7-position of the core, Me-ITBD showed a larger torsional angle between thiophene and indenothiophene. Non-fullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs) with the methyl-substituted asymmetric acceptor Me-ITBD displayed an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.75%, compared to the PSC (PCE = 1.79%) based on a PhITBD acceptor. The higher PCE value of the Me-ITBD-based PSC was ascribed to its improved device parameters, i.e. the Jsc and FF, induced by a favorable fine morphology in the active layer. By simply introducing a methyl substituent in the indenothiophene unit of the PhITBD acceptor, the PSC performance was enhanced.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)164-171
    Number of pages8
    JournalSynthetic Metals
    Volume246
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018 Dec

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    We would like to thank the National Research Foundation of Korea ( NRF2018R1D1A1B07042533 , NRF20100020209 ) for their support in carrying out this study.

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

    Keywords

    • Acceptor
    • Asymmetric structure
    • Indenothiophene
    • Methyl substituent
    • Polymer solar cell
    • Power conversion efficiency

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
    • Condensed Matter Physics
    • Mechanics of Materials
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Metals and Alloys
    • Materials Chemistry

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