Structurally Compact Penta(N,N-diphenylamino)corannulene as Dopant-free Hole Transport Materials for Stable and...

Hole transport materials (HTMs) are essential for improving the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we have designed and synthesized a novel organic small molecule HTM, cor-(DPA)₅, characterized by a bowl-shaped core with symmetric five diphenylamine groups. Compared to already-known HTMs, the bowl-shaped and relatively compact structure of cor-(DPA)₅ facilitates intermolecular π-π interactions, promotes film formations, and enhances charge transport. Consequently, the cor-[DPA(2)]₅ HTM exhibits high charge mobility, exceptional hydrophobicity, and a significantly elevated glass transition temperature. Superior to previously reported HTMs such as spiro-OMeTAD and cor-OMePTPA, our newly synthesized cor-(DPA)₅ HTM is free from any ionic dopants. As a result, the dopant-free cor-[DPA(2)]₅-based PSC demonstrates an impressive efficiency of 24.01 %, and exhibits outstanding operational stability. It retains 96 % after continuous exposure to 1 sun irradiation for 800 hours under MPP (maximum power point) tracking in ambient air. These findings present a structurally compact novel HTM and exemplify a new approach to the molecular design of HTM for the development of stable and effective PSCs.