Comparing the microstructure and photovoltaic performance of 3 perylene imide acceptors with similar energy levels but different packing tendencies

While it is widely recognized that microstructure plays an important role in the performance of organic photovoltaics (OPV), systematic studies are often challenging, as varying the molecular packing through typical chemical means (such as sidechain tuning) often affects the molecular energy levels,...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Adel, Rana, Gala Sánchez, Elena, Alonso Navarro, Matías J., Gutiérrez Fernández, Edgar, Martín, Jaime, Stella, Marco, Martínez Ferrero, Eugenia, de la Peña, Alejandro, Harbuzaru, Alexandra, Ramos, M. Mar, Ponce Ortiz, Rocío, Segura Castedo, José Luis, Campoy Quiles, Mariano
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/124163
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/124163
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:perylene imide
microstructure
organic photovoltaics
Ciencias
23 Química
Descripción
Sumario:While it is widely recognized that microstructure plays an important role in the performance of organic photovoltaics (OPV), systematic studies are often challenging, as varying the molecular packing through typical chemical means (such as sidechain tuning) often affects the molecular energy levels, thus preventing a clear correlation. In this work we present the synthesis of three perylene imide (PI) based electron acceptors with almost identical energy levels, but distinct packing tendencies. We confirm our initial hypothesis by measuring solution and solid-state absorption, cyclic voltammetry as well as characterizing the films by grazing incident wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). In a second step, we repeat the characterization of the three materials in blends with two polymer donors, namely PCDTBT or PBDBT, whose energy levels are well aligned with those of the PI acceptors, and which, additionally, exhibit different degrees of structural order. We show how the initial strong difference between acceptors is partially blurred in blends, but still critical. Finally, we correlate our structural data with OPV devices made with the corresponding six blends. Our data suggest that a good donor acceptor marriage should ensure good energy alignment but also exhibit complementary crystallization tendencies of the two components.