Asymmetric main-chain twisted small molecules for efficient polymer solar cells

Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on small molecules with twisted backbones as electron acceptors, have many advantages over their planar counterparts, such as upshifted molecular energy levels, better charge extraction performance, enhanced extinction coefficient, extended carrier lifetime and reduced recombination rate, which are very helpful in improving the power conversion efficiencies (PCE). The present study was designed to synthesize two new small molecules with main-chain twisted structures that include an asymmetric electron donor core thiophene-phenylene-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene, namely i-T-TT and i-T-TT-4F, to investigate the “structure-property” correlation of main-chain twisted acceptors. Both asymmetric molecules exhibit bent geometric structures, and the fluorinated acceptor i-T-TT-4F possesses a more red-shifted spectrum, improved molar extinction coefficient, and deepened molecular energy levels. As a result, when combined with the middle bandgap polymer donor J52, there was a remarkable efficiency of 12.22 % for the device of i-T-TT-4F, higher than that of i-T-TT (9.51 %). Our research illustrates the importance of the main-chain twisted asymmetric electron-donating core and fluorinated end-capping group in the construction of efficient PSCs. [Display omitted] •Two asymmetric main-chain twisted small molecules (i-T-TT, and i-T-TT-4F) acceptors were synthesized.•The i-T-TT-4F possesses red-shifted spectrum, large molar extinction coefficient, and reduced energy levels.•The molecule i-T-TT-4F achieves a power conversion efficiency of 12.22 % with J52.