A three-dimensional tetrahedral-shaped conjugated small molecule for organic solar cells

• Main Authors: QIN Yang, YANG Jianzhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academic Journals Center of Shanghai Normal University 2014-04-01
• Series: Journal of Shanghai Normal University (Natural Sciences)
• Subjects: tetrahedral-shaped small molecule; organic solar cell; crystallinity; phase separation
• Online Access: http://qktg.shnu.edu.cn/zrb/shsfqkszrb/ch/reader/create_pdf.aspx?file_no=201402009&flag=1&year_id=2014&quarter_id=2

We report the synthesis of a novel three-dimensional tetrahedral-shaped small molecule,<b>SO</b>,containing a tetraphenylsilane core and cyanoester functionalized terthiophene arms.A deep lying HOMO energy level of -5.3 eV and a narrow bandgap of 1.9 eV were obtained from cyclic voltammetry measurements.Absorption,X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry experiments all indicate high crystallinity of this compound.Solar cells employing <b>SO</b> were fabricated and evaluated.The relatively low performance was mainly ascribed to lack of appreciable phase separation,which is confirmed by optical microscopy.