Solution processable diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) cored small molecules with BODIPY end groups as novel donors for organic solar cells

Diego Cortizo-Lacalle; Calvyn T Howells; Upendra K Pandey; Joseph Cameron; Neil J Findlay; Anto Regis Inigo; Tell Tuttle; Peter J Skabara; Ifor D W Samuel

doi:10.3762/bjoc.10.283

Solution processable diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) cored small molecules with BODIPY end groups as novel donors for organic solar cells

Beilstein J Org Chem. 2014 Nov 18:10:2683-95. doi: 10.3762/bjoc.10.283. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Diego Cortizo-Lacalle¹, Calvyn T Howells², Upendra K Pandey³, Joseph Cameron¹, Neil J Findlay¹, Anto Regis Inigo¹, Tell Tuttle¹, Peter J Skabara¹, Ifor D W Samuel²

Affiliations

¹ WestCHEM, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UK.
² Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK.
³ Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK ; Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.

Abstract

Two novel triads based on a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) central core and two 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) units attached by thiophene rings have been synthesised having high molar extinction coefficients. These triads were characterised and used as donor materials in small molecule, solution processable organic solar cells. Both triads were blended with PC71BM as an acceptor in different ratios by wt % and their photovoltaic properties were studied. For both the triads a modest photovoltaic performance was observed, having an efficiency of 0.65%. Moreover, in order to understand the ground and excited state properties and vertical absorption profile of DPP and BODIPY units within the triads, theoretical DFT and TDDFT calculations were performed.

Keywords: BODIPY; diketopyrrolopyrrole; organic semiconductors; organic solar cells; thiophene.