Monomeric perylene diimide derivatives can lead to efficient, solution-processed organic solar cells

What is it about?

In comparison to fullerenes, PDIs absorb the light stronger, they are cheaper, and exhibit acceptable electron mobilities. Hence, intensifying the research on PDIs electron acceptors is a top priority for the benefit of OPV devices. Research on PDI-based OPVs is ongoing for decades but still the PCE of these cells has remained poor. We describe a methodology for fabricating PDI-based OPVs with a PCE close to 4% by using a low-cost monomeric PDI derivative, which can be processed in solution.

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Why is it important?

To this end, high PCE values of PDI-based OPVs have been achieved only after using PDI-dimers as electron acceptors. In this work we demonstrate how the use of a less expensive PDI monomer can deliver similarly high PCEs. By using an additive, the PCE reaches a value of 3.7%. We discuss on the factors that can increase further the efficiency of PDI-based OPV devices. The additive improves the excited state dissociation efficiency, the charge mobility ratio and the charge extraction efficiency.