Three Isomeric Non-Fullerene Acceptors Comprising a Mono-Brominated End-Group for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

作者:Luo, Mei; Chen, Yinchu; Liang, Jiahao; Zhou, Jiadong; Yuan, Dong; Zhang, Zesheng; Liu, Xuanchen; Zhang, Lianjie; Xie, Zengqi; Chen, Junwu*
来源:ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2022, 14(31): 35985-35996.
DOI:10.1021/acsami.2c09323

摘要

Non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) carrying a 1,1-dicyanomethylene-3-indanone (IC) end-group are the most powerful ones to boost the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the well-known Knoevenagel condensation of the mono-halogenated IC end-group will result in an NFA isomeric effect, a chemical issue that needs to be addressed. Herein, facile preparations and separations of three well-defined mono-brominated isomers BTzIC-2Br-delta, BTzIC-2Br-gamma, and BTzIC-2Br-delta gamma via column chromatography with a well-chosen mixing solvent were demonstrated for Knoevenagel condensation, and their structures were verified by NMR spectra and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra. It is the first time that an asymmetric isomer BTzIC-2Br-delta gamma is reported, and the regioisomeric effect on optoelectronic properties can be investigated based on all three isomers. Moreover, the single-crystal structure was successfully achieved for the symmetric molecule BTzIC-2Br-gamma. With benzodithiophene (BDT)-free PFBT4T-T20 as an easily accessible and low-cost polymer donor, the three isomers could show differentiated device performances, with a power conversion efficiency order of BTzIC-2Br-gamma (16.00%) > BTzIC-2Br-delta gamma (15.81%) > BTzIC-2Br-delta (15.29%). The best efficiency of 16.00% achieved with BTzIC-2Br-gamma is among the highest ones for binary OSCs based on the low-cost BDT-free donors. The facile and complete synthesis of isomeric NFAs with mono-halogenated IC end-groups would promote the elucidation of the structure-property relationship.