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Frontiers of Optoelectronics

ISSN 2095-2759

ISSN 2095-2767(Online)

CN 10-1029/TN

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Front Optoelec Chin    2011, Vol. 4 Issue (1) : 12-23    https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-011-0206-1
REVIEW ARTICLE
Conjugated dendritic oligothiophenes for solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells
Chang-Qi MA()
Institute of Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Materials, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm D-89081, Germany
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Abstract

This mini-review summarizes the recent achievements of developing conjugated dendritic oligothiophenes (DOT) for use in solution-processed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. These DOTs are structurally defined molecules with relatively high molecular weight. Therefore, this novel class of thiophene based material possesses not only some advantages of oligomers, such as defined and monodispersed molecular structure, high chemical purity, but also some characteristics of polymers, for example, good solution-processability. In addition, the step-by-step approach of its synthesis allows precise functionalization of dendritic backbones with desired moieties, which is helpful to finely tune the optical and electronic properties of materials. Power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of BHJ solar cells were achieved up to 2.5% when functionalized thiophene dendrimers were used as electron donor and electron acceptor was a fullerene derivative. These results indicated that dendritic oligothiophenes are a novel class of the materials of electron donor for solution-processed organic solar cells.
Keywords conjugated dendrimers      dendritic oligothiophenes (DOT)      organic semiconductors      bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells     
Corresponding Author(s): MA Chang-Qi,Email:changqi.ma@uni-ulm.de   
Issue Date: 05 March 2011
 Cite this article:   
Chang-Qi MA. Conjugated dendritic oligothiophenes for solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells[J]. Front Optoelec Chin, 2011, 4(1): 12-23.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-011-0206-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2011/V4/I1/12
Fig.1  Examples of thiophene based polymers and oligomers for use in solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells
Fig.1  Examples of thiophene based polymers and oligomers for use in solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells
Fig.2  Chemical structure of Advincula-type all-thiophene dendrons and dendrimers
Fig.2  Chemical structure of Advincula-type all-thiophene dendrons and dendrimers
Fig.3  Chemical structure of generation all-thiophene dendrons and dendrimers
Fig.3  Chemical structure of generation all-thiophene dendrons and dendrimers
Fig.4  EQE spectrum comparison of P3HT:PCBM (1∶1, /), 42T∶PCBM (1∶2, /), and 90T∶PCBM (1∶2, /) based devices
Fig.4  EQE spectrum comparison of P3HT:PCBM (1∶1, /), 42T∶PCBM (1∶2, /), and 90T∶PCBM (1∶2, /) based devices
Fig.5  (a) Weight-averaged absorption coefficient of T dendrons and solar flux (AM1.5G); (b) correlation between and number of absorbed solar photons (s·g) for DOTs. (Reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2008 Wiley-VCH)
Fig.5  (a) Weight-averaged absorption coefficient of T dendrons and solar flux (AM1.5G); (b) correlation between and number of absorbed solar photons (s·g) for DOTs. (Reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2008 Wiley-VCH)
Fig.6  Correlation between short-circuit current density and ratio of DOT:PCBM as well as number of thiophene units per PCBM molecule (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2008 Wiley-VCH)
Fig.6  Correlation between short-circuit current density and ratio of DOT:PCBM as well as number of thiophene units per PCBM molecule (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2008 Wiley-VCH)
DOTlabsmax/nma)Eg/eVa)VOC/Vb)JSC/(mA·cm-2)b)FFb)/%PCE/%b)mh/(cm·V-1·S-1)c)
18T-Si3922.350.942.390.350.791.5 × 10-6
21T3832.430.992.640.370.961.5 × 10-5
42T-Si3952.290.942.960.371.033.6 × 10-6
42T3.932.280.983.920.431.651.2 × 10-5
0.97d)4.19d)0.42d)1.72d)
90T3.87e)2.24e)0.94d)4.40d)0.40d)1.65d)-
Tab.1  Optical and physical data as well as device performance of selected thiophene dendrimers
Fig.7  Chemical structures of benzene ring cored-thiophene dendrimers
Fig.7  Chemical structures of benzene ring cored-thiophene dendrimers
Fig.8  (a) Absorption comparison between pFHBC-9T, 9T, and 18T; (b) chemical structure of pFHBC-9T
Fig.8  (a) Absorption comparison between pFHBC-9T, 9T, and 18T; (b) chemical structure of pFHBC-9T
Fig.9  - curve (a) and EQE spectra (b) of pFHBC-9T:PCBM based devices
Fig.9  - curve (a) and EQE spectra (b) of pFHBC-9T:PCBM based devices
Fig.10  Chemical structure of pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline (PQ)-cored thiophene dendrimers
Fig.10  Chemical structure of pyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline (PQ)-cored thiophene dendrimers
Fig.11  Absorption spectra (a) and electronic energy levels of PQ-cored thiophene dendrimers (b) (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2009 American Chemical Society)
Fig.11  Absorption spectra (a) and electronic energy levels of PQ-cored thiophene dendrimers (b) (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2009 American Chemical Society)
Fig.12  Functionalization of perylenebisimide (PDI) and phthalocyanine (Pc) dyes with thiophene dendrons via non-covalent bonds
Fig.12  Functionalization of perylenebisimide (PDI) and phthalocyanine (Pc) dyes with thiophene dendrons via non-covalent bonds
Fig.13  (a) UV-vis absorption of PDI-DOT (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2009 Royal Society of Chemistry); (b) Pc-DOT hybrids (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2009 American Chemistry Society)
Fig.13  (a) UV-vis absorption of PDI-DOT (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2009 Royal Society of Chemistry); (b) Pc-DOT hybrids (reproduced with permission from Ref. [], Copyright 2009 American Chemistry Society)
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