Efficient planar organic semiconductors containing fused triphenylamine for solution processed small molecule organic solar cells

A new and efficient push–pull organic semiconductor, DMM-TPA-Th2-MMN, with a planar fused triphenylamine (DMM-TPA) donor and a methylene malononitrile (MMN) acceptor was synthesized. The planar semiconductor exhibited better p-type semiconducting performance with a power conversion efficiency of 4.04% in solution-processed small-molecule organic solar cells than did the tilted TPA-Th2-MMN semiconductor, enhancing hole mobilities due to more favorable intermolecular π–π packing interactions. A new and efficient push–pull organic semiconductor, DMM-TPA-Th2-MMN, with a planar fused triphenylamine (DMM-TPA) donor and a methylene malononitrile (MMN) acceptor was synthesized and characterized their application in solution processed small molecule organic solar cell. [Display omitted] •New planar organic semiconductor comprising of fused triphenylamine donor and methylene malononitrile was synthesized.•The fused TPA induce the enhanced the hole mobility due to more favorable intermolecular π–π packing interaction.•The planar structure via fused TPA exhibited the better photovoltaic performances that the tilted structure with TPA.