Open AccessA New Electron Acceptor with meta ‐Alkoxyphenyl Side Chain for Fullerene‐Free Polymer Solar Cells with 9.3% Efficiency
Author(s) -
Zhang Zhenzhen,
Feng Liuliu,
Xu Shutao,
Liu Ye,
Peng Hongjian,
Zhang ZhiGuo,
Li Yongfang,
Zou Yingping
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201700152
Subject(s) - acceptor , materials science , fullerene , electron acceptor , thiophene , polymer solar cell , energy conversion efficiency , side chain , organic solar cell , polymer , annealing (glass) , photochemistry , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , physics , engineering , condensed matter physics
A new small molecule acceptor, m‐ITIC‐OR, based on indacenodithieno[3,2‐ b ]thiophene core with meta ‐alkoxyphenyl side chains, is designed and synthesized. The m‐ITIC‐OR film shows broader and redshift absorption compared to its solution and matched energy levels with a hexafluoroquinoxaline‐based polymer donor‐HFQx‐T. Here, polymer solar cells (PSCs) by blending an HFQx‐T donor and an m‐ITIC‐OR acceptor as an active layer deliver the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.36% without any posttreatment. The investigations demonstrate that the HFQx‐T:m‐ITIC‐OR blend films possess higher and more balanced charge mobility, negligible bimolecular recombination, and nanoscale interpenetrating morphology after thermal annealing (TA) treatment. Through a simple TA treatment at 150 °C for 5 min, an impressive PCE of 9.3% is obtained. This efficiency is among one of the highest PCEs for additive free PSCs. This is the first time alkoxyphenyl side chain is introduced into nonfullerene electron acceptor; more interestingly, the new electron acceptor (m‐ITIC‐OR) in this work shows a great potential for highly efficient photovoltaic properties.