A new benzotrithiophene-based small molecule, namely 2,5,8-Tris[5-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)-2-thienyl]-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b':6,5-b″]-trithiophene (DCVT-BTT), was successfully synthesized and subsequently characterized. This compound was found to present an intense absorption band at a wavelength position of ∼544 nm and displayed potentially relevant optoelectronic properties for photovoltaic devices. Theoretical studies demonstrated an interesting behavior of charge transport as electron donor (hole-transporting) active material for heterojunction cells. A preliminary study of small-molecule organic solar cells based on DCVT-BTT (as the P-type organic semiconductor) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (as the N-type organic semiconductor) exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 2.04% at a donor: acceptor weight ratio of 1:1.
Keywords: benzotrithiophene derivative; organic semiconductors; organic solar cells; small molecule; π-stacked assemblies.