Solution-processed boron subphthalocyanine derivatives as acceptors for organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells

Ebenhoch, Bernd; Prasetya, Nor Basid Adiwibawa; Rotello, Vincent M.; Cooke, Graeme; Samuel, Ifor D. W.

doi:10.1039/c5ta00715a

Cited by 72 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Derivatization has also led to altering the HOMO and LUMO such that the BsubPc can act as an electron accepting material within OPVs. As a result, BsubPcs have been explored as a possible replacement for the more typical fullerene‐acceptor‐based devices . More recent studies have identified certain BsubPc derivatives that are soluble enough in organic solvents to be solution‐deposited into organic electronics allowing the device fabrication to be more scalable …”

Section: Boron Subphthalocyaninesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Boron Subphthalocyanines and Silicon Phthalocyanines for Use as Active Materials in Organic Photovoltaics

Grant

Josey

Sampson

et al. 2019

The Chemical Record

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Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have experienced continued interest over the last 25 years as a viable technology for the generation of power. Phthalocyanines are among the oldest commercial dyes and have been utilized in some of the earliest examples of OPVs. In recent years, the use of boron subphthalocyanines (BsubPcs) and silicon phthalocyanines (SiPcs) has attracted a flurry of interest with some examples of fullerene‐free devices reaching power conversion efficiencies >8 %. Unlike other more common divalent phthalocyanines such as copper or zinc, BsubPcs and SiPcs contain additional axial groups that can easily be functionalized without significantly affecting the optoelectronic properties of the macrocycle. This handle facilitates our ability to tune the solid‐state arrangement and other physical characteristics such as solubility ultimately giving us the ability to improve the thin film processing and final device performance. This review covers recent studies on the development of BsubPcs and SiPcs for use as active materials in organic photovoltaics.

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Section: Boron Subphthalocyaninesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Structures of electron donors and acceptors in all BsubPc‐containing, solution‐deposited OPV devices in literature …”

Section: Boron Subphthalocyaninesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Boron Subphthalocyanines and Silicon Phthalocyanines for Use as Active Materials in Organic Photovoltaics

Grant

Josey

Sampson

et al. 2019

The Chemical Record

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“…When blended with the donor A61, the A64 molecule exhibited a high PCE performance of about 4.0% . Very recently, Ebenhoch and co‐workers designed and synthesized a novel nonfullerene small molecule acceptor A65 which was used to assemble the solar cells with three different donors (MEH–PPV, P3HT, and PTB7) . The device performance indicated that when the PTB7 acted as the donor, a higher PCE value of about 3.51% was obtained compared to the low efficiency of the other two donors of MEH–PPV(0.40%) and P3HT(1.10%).…”

Section: Nonfullerene Small Molecule Acceptorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Nonfullerene Acceptors for Organic Solar Cells

Liu

Hou

et al. 2017

Macromol. Rapid Commun.

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Recently, research on nonfullerene acceptors in organic solar cells has gradually become a hot topic due to such superior characteristics of light absorption and energy-level-convenient manipulation, multiformity of the photoactive material structures, as well as the extensive area in production compared to the fullerene derivatives. However, the nonfullerene acceptors evolved slowly before 2012 and, as a matter of fact, the power conversion efficiency values could only bear 2.0%. Strikingly, nonfullerene acceptors have developed at a fast pace since 2013, with the best device performance of 13.1% now. In this review, recent research progress on nonfullerene acceptors, including small molecules and polymers, are sorted and summarized on the basis of the different characteristics.

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“…Nevertheless, only very recently, SubPc molecules have been demonstrated as electron acceptors in solution-processed BHJ solar cells. [13] Herein, we report four hexachlorosubphthalocyanines (SubPcCl6-X) bearing different axial substituents, i.e. chlorine and differently substituted phenoxy groups, as electron acceptors in BHJ solar cells.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Axial Substituent in Subphthalocyanine Acceptors for Bulk‐Heterojunction Solar Cells

et al. 2016

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Four hexachlorosubphthalocyanines SubPcCl6-X bearing different axial substituents (X) have been synthesized for use as novel electron acceptors in solution processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells. Subphthalocyanines are aromatic chromophore molecules with cone-shaped structure, good solution processability, intense optical absorption in the visible spectral region, appropriate electron mobilities, and tunable energy levels. Solar cells with subphthalocyanines as the electron acceptors and PTB7-Th as the electron donor exhibit a power conversion efficiency up to 4% and an external quantum efficiency approaching 60% due to significant contributions from both the electron donor and acceptor to the photocurrent, indicating a promising prospect of non-fullerene acceptors based on subphthalocyanines and structurally related systems.Solution processed bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) are a promising renewable energy technology towards future efficient, large-area, flexible photovoltaic modules. [1] The main component of an OSC is its BHJ active layer, consisting of an electron donor and an electron acceptor phase separated into a bi-continuous interpenetrating network morphology.[2] Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 11% have been achieved recently.[3] While numerous electron donors, including semiconducting polymers and small molecules, have been assessed, [4] electron acceptor components are still dominated by fullerene derivatives because of their high electron mobility, ideal frontier orbital energy levels, and isotropic charge transport properties.[5] However, fullerene derivatives have intrinsic shortcomings, such as high cost of synthesis, low absorption coefficients in the visible spectral region, limited variability in energy level, and morphological instability in the blended films.[6] The development of new electron acceptors which overcome the drawbacks associated with fullerene-based acceptors is thus vital for further advancing OSCs. [7] Encouragingly, several studies have reported BHJ solar cells with PCEs >8% based on non-fullerene acceptors.[8]Subphthalocyanines (SubPcs) are aromatic chromophore molecules including a boron atom at their inner cavity, with intense optical absorption in the 460−580 nm spectral region, [9] and relatively high electron mobilities.[10] Traditionally, they have been used as electron donors in vacuum deposited planar heterojunction solar cells.[9a] However, the electronic properties of SubPcs can be easily adjusted by introducing axial and/or peripheral substituents.[9a] Hence, by rational molecular design, i.e.introducing peripheral electron withdrawing groups, SubPcs have been transformed into electron acceptor molecules. [11] In this context, non-fullerene, vacuum evaporated solar cells containing SubPc molecules achieved a PCE of 8.4%.[12] The cone-shaped structure of SubPcs prevents excessive aggregation in solution and solid state, providing good solution processability even without the assistance of electrically i...

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Solution-processed boron subphthalocyanine derivatives as acceptors for organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells

Abstract: We present solution-processed organic solar cells based on subphthalocyanine acceptors with strong light harvesting in the visible region and an efficiency up to 3.5%.

Cited by 72 publications

References 39 publications

Boron Subphthalocyanines and Silicon Phthalocyanines for Use as Active Materials in Organic Photovoltaics

Boron Subphthalocyanines and Silicon Phthalocyanines for Use as Active Materials in Organic Photovoltaics

Recent Advances in Nonfullerene Acceptors for Organic Solar Cells

The Role of the Axial Substituent in Subphthalocyanine Acceptors for Bulk‐Heterojunction Solar Cells

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