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Fluorinating π‐Extended Molecular Acceptors Yields Highly Connected Crystal Structures and Low Reorganization Energies for Efficient Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Swick Steven M.,
Alzola Joaquin M.,
Sangwan Vinod K.,
Amsterdam Samuel H.,
Zhu Weigang,
Jones Leighton O.,
PowersRiggs Natalia,
Facchetti Antonio,
Kohlstedt Kevin L.,
Schatz George C.,
Hersam Mark C.,
Wasielewski Michael R.,
Marks Tobin J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.202000635
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallinity , polymer solar cell , energy conversion efficiency , heterojunction , crystal (programming language) , density functional theory , single crystal , ultrafast laser spectroscopy , spectroscopy , crystal structure , organic solar cell , chemical engineering , photochemistry , polymer , crystallography , optoelectronics , computational chemistry , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , engineering , composite material , programming language
The synthesis and characterization of new semiconducting materials is essential for developing high‐efficiency organic solar cells. Here, the synthesis, physiochemical properties, thin film morphology, and photovoltaic response of ITN‐F4 and ITzN‐F4, the first indacenodithienothiophene nonfullerene acceptors that combine π‐extension and fluorination, are reported. The neat acceptors and bulk‐heterojunction blend films with fluorinated donor polymer poly{[4,8‐bis[5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐4‐fluoro‐2‐thienyl]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐ b ′]‐dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl]‐ alt ‐[2,5‐thiophenediyl[5,7‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)‐4,8‐dioxo‐4 H ,8 H ‐benzo[1,2‐ c :4,5‐ c ′]dithiophene‐1,3‐diyl]]} (PBDB‐TF, also known as PM6) are investigated using a battery of techniques, including single crystal X‐ray diffraction, fs transient absorption spectroscopy (fsTA), photovoltaic response, space‐charge‐limited current transport, impedance spectroscopy, grazing incidence wide angle X‐ray scattering, and density functional theory level computation. ITN‐F4 and ITzN‐F4 are found to provide power conversion efficiencies greater and internal reorganization energies less than their non‐π‐extended and nonfluorinated counterparts when paired with PBDB‐TF. Additionally, ITN‐F4 and ITzN‐F4 exhibit favorable bulk‐heterojunction relevant single crystal packing architectures. fsTA reveals that both ITN‐F4 and ITzN‐F4 undergo ultrafast hole transfer (<300 fs) in films with PBDB‐TF, despite excimer state formation in both the neat and blend films. Taken together and in comparison to related structures, these results demonstrate that combined fluorination and π‐extension synergistically promote crystallographic π‐face‐to‐face packing, increase crystallinity, reduce internal reorganization energies, increase interplanar π–π electronic coupling, and increase power conversion efficiency.