Synthesis and characterization of push-pull organic semiconductors with various acceptors for solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells

New efficient push-pull organic semiconductors comprising of the bis(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl) aniline (bisDMFA) donor and the various acceptors such as NO2, DCBP, and TCF, which were linked with bithiophene or vinyl bithiophene pi-conjugation bridges, were synthesized, and their photovoltaic characteristics were investigated in solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells (SMOSCs). The intramolecular charge transfers of these materials were effectively appeared in between bisDMFA donor and acceptors, depending on the electron-withdrawing strength of acceptors. The organic semiconductors having NO2 and DCBP acceptors exhibited the most efficient photovoltaic performance, showing power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.98% (+/- 0.17) and 2.01% (+/- 0.21), respectively. When the TiOx thin layer was treated on photoactive layer, the organic semiconductor having NO2 showed the best PCE of 2.70% with short circuit current of 8.19 mA/cm(2), fill factor of 0.40, and open circuit voltage of 0.83 V in SMOSC devices. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.