NIR-Absorbing
Merocyanine Dyes for BHJ Solar Cells
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Abstract
We have synthesized a series of new,
polymethine chain extended
merocyanine dyes <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> bearing varied
acceptor units and an aminothiophene donor moiety. The optical and
electronic properties of these new merocyanines have been studied
in comparison with their corresponding lower homologues <b>5</b>–<b>8</b>, which contain two methine groups less, by
UV–vis and electro-optical absorption (EOA) spectroscopy and
cyclic voltammetry. The absorption spectra of π-extended merocyanines
are markedly red-shifted, and their extinction coefficients are significantly
increased compared to those of their lower homologues. The photovoltaic
characteristics of these dyes have been explored in devices using
them as donor and PC<sub>61</sub>BM fullerene as acceptor materials.
Our detailed studies reveal that, despite more favorable absorption
properties, the π-extended merocyanines exhibit lower short-circuit
current densities (<i>J</i><sub>SC</sub>) as well as decreased
open-circuit voltages (<i>V</i><sub>OC</sub>) and power
conversion efficiencies (<i>PCE</i>) compared with those
of their respective lower homologues. The unexpected decreased <i>J</i><sub>SC</sub> values could be explained in terms of looser
packing features of π-extended chromophores in the solid state
as revealed by single-crystal X-ray analysis of two pairs (<b>1</b>/<b>5</b> and <b>4</b>/<b>8</b>) of these dyes.
By optimization of device setup <i>PCE</i> of 2.3% has been
achieved with the π-extended donor material <b>4</b>