Solution processable quinacridone based materials as acceptor for organic heterojunction solar cells

Two series of novel quinacridone (QA) based materials that combined a strong absorption over a broad range in visible region with good electrical characteristics, which were used as the new electron-accepting materials for organic solar cells, are explored. Unique cyclic compounds 1– 6 are synthesized by incorporating electron withdrawing groups (CN, COOH) at carbonyl position of alkyl substituted quinacridones, which lead to the compounds possessing the characteristics of solution-processed and being suitable for photovoltaic applications. Heterojunction solar cells with simple device configuration using these soluble materials as acceptor and effective donor poly (3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) were fabricated. The maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) achieved in the solar cell based on compound 5 is 0.42% under simulated AM 1.5 solar irradiation with J sc =1.80 mA cm −2, V oc =0.50 V and FF=47%. Although the aimed devices just exhibit moderate PCE, our results clearly suggest that the new-type electron-accepting materials different from fullerene have great potential as acceptor in heterojunction solar cell due to many advantages of the QA derivatives such as relatively inexpensive, good electrochemical stability and could be readily modified. Two novel series of quinacridone derivatives have been synthesized, which exhibited suitable photophysical and electrochemical properties. As a new type of electron-accepting material different from the fullerene system, they showed promising performances when used in heterojunction solar cells. [Display omitted] ► Two novel series of quinacridone (QA) derivatives were synthesized easily. ► New solution-processed electron-accepting materials for organic solar cells were explored. ► Heterojunction solar cells based on the non-fullerene system presented rather satisfactory photovoltaic properties.