High-performance solution-processed solar cells and ambipolar behavior in organic field-effect transistors with thienyl-BODIPY scaffoldings

J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Oct 24;134(42):17404-7. doi: 10.1021/ja3072513. Epub 2012 Oct 10.

Abstract

Green-absorbing dipyrromethene dyes engineered from bis-vinyl-thienyl modules are planar molecules, exhibiting strong absorption in the 713-724 nm range and displaying comparable electron and hole mobilities in thin films (maximum value 1 × 10(-3) cm(2)/(V·s)). Bulk heterojunction solar cells assembled with these dyes and a fullerene derivative (PC(61)BM) at a low ratio give a power conversion efficiency as high as 4.7%, with short-circuit current values of 14.2 mA/cm(2), open-circuit voltage of 0.7 V, and a broad external quantum efficiency ranging from 350 to 920 nm with a maximum value of 60%.