Efficient solution-processed photovoltaic cells based on an anthradithiophene/fullerene blend.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Photovoltaics

Background:

• Solution-processed organic photovoltaic cells offer a low-cost alternative to traditional silicon cells.
• Developing efficient donor and acceptor materials is crucial for improving organic solar cell performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the photovoltaic properties of blends using a novel anthradithiophene derivative as the donor and a fullerene derivative as the acceptor.
• To explore the effect of solvent vapor annealing on the morphology and performance of these organic solar cells.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of photovoltaic cells using solution-processed blends of a novel anthradithiophene donor and a fullerene acceptor.
• Employing solvent vapor annealing to induce specific morphological changes.
• Characterization of device performance, including power conversion efficiency.

Main Results:

• Solvent vapor annealing resulted in the formation of spherulites, composed of anthradithiophene crystallites within a fullerene-rich amorphous matrix.
• A direct correlation was observed between the coverage of spherulites on the device and its overall performance.
• Devices with 82% spherulite coverage achieved a power conversion efficiency of 1%.

Conclusions:

• The novel anthradithiophene derivative shows promise as a donor material for organic photovoltaics.
• Spherulite formation via solvent vapor annealing is an effective strategy for enhancing the performance of small molecule organic solar cells.
• These results represent a significant advancement in solution-processed small molecule photovoltaic technology.