Synthesis of a BDT-based small-molecule acceptor with dye end groups for organic photovoltaic cell application

ABSTRACT

An acceptor-donor-acceptor (A–D–A)-type small molecule, BDT-IN, having a benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (BDT) unit as its electron-donating core (D) and an 1,3-indanedione (IN) unit as its electron-withdrawing end group (A), was synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation. The BDT-IN film showed broader UV absorption with a greater red shift (λ_max = 622 nm) than that of the BDT-IN solution (λ_max = 570 nm). The organic photovoltaic cells were fabricated with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/poly(3-hexylthiophene): BDT-IN/LiF/Al configuration, and showed a power conversion efficiency of 0.23%.

KEYWORDS:

• Organic photovoltaic cells
• OPV
• benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b'  ]dithiophene (BDT)
• 1,3-indandione

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Kyonggi University Research Grant 2014.