An efficient tetrazine photoluminescent layer used for organic solar cells down shifting

[Display omitted] •We have shown for the first time photon down conversion by a purely organic molecule.•Efficient down shifting occurs by energy transfer from UV antenna part of the molecule to its fluorescent part•This has been demonstrated using a standard all-organic photovoltaic cell. This work reports a new material used as photo luminescent layer in inverted organic solar cells. We have studied the fluorescence and the optical properties of tetrazine molecules included in the layer. The molecules are used at a small to average concentration in a matrix of polymers such as PMMA or Polystyrene, and contain an UV-absorbing moiety acting as an antenna, attached to the yellow-emitting tetrazine. It is therefore able to achieve the down conversion of otherwise useless UV photons into useful yellow photons. The results show that the performances of the inverted organic photovoltaic cells are enhanced by use the luminescent down shifting layer, especially in the UV range.