Enantiopure versus Racemic Naphthalimide End‐Capped Helicenic Non‐fullerene Electron Acceptors: Impact on Organic Photovoltaics Performance. Issue 26 (10th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Josse, Pierre; Favereau, Ludovic; Shen, Chengshuo; Dabos‐Seignon, Sylvie; Blanchard, Philippe; Cabanetos, Clément; Crassous, Jeanne
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 23:Issue 26(2017)
• Page Start: 6277
• Page End: 6281
• Publication Date: 2017-04-10
• Subjects: chirality -- enantiopurity -- helicene -- non-fullerene -- organic photovoltaics; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201701066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

Abstract: Impact of the enantiopurity on organic photovoltaics (OPV) performance was investigated through the synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure naphthalimide end‐capped helicenes and their application as non‐fullerene molecular electron acceptors in OPV devices. A very strong increase of the device performance was observed by simply switching from the racemic to the enantiopure forms of these π‐helical non‐fullerene acceptors with power conversion efficiencies jumping from 0.4 to about 2.0 % in air‐processed poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐based devices, thus highlighting the key role of enantiopurity in the photovoltaic properties. Abstract : Unprecedented enantiopurity impact on OPV performance was observed with racemic and enantiomerically pure naphthalimide end‐capped helicenes as non‐fullerene molecular electron acceptors. Blended with P3HT donor polymer, a fivefold increase of the cells efficiency was recorded going from the racemic to the enantiomerically pure electron acceptor, highlighting the key role of the enantiopurity of the π‐conjugated backbone on the self‐assembly, charge transport, and therefore the overall photovoltaic properties.