Synthesis and characterization of phenanthrene-substituted fullerene derivatives as electron acceptors for P3HT-based polymer solar cells

Abstract

9,10-Bis(bromomethyl)phenanthrene reacted with fullerenes via a Diels-Alder reaction to give phenanthrene-substituted fullerene mono-adducts (PCMA) and bis-adducts (PCBA) as electron acceptors for organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). The syntheses of the fullerene derivatives were confirmed by 1H 13C NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. PCMA and PCBA showed better light absorption in the UV-visible region than PC61BM. Their electrochemical properties were measured using cyclic voltammetry. Accordingly, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of PCMA and PCBA were -3.66 and -3.57 eV, respectively. Photovoltaic cells were fabricated with a ITO/PEDOT:PSS/poly(3-hexylthiophene)( P3HT):acceptor/LiF/Al configuration, where P3HT and PCBA are the electron donors and acceptors, respectively. The polymer solar cell fabricated using the P3HT:PCBA active layer showed a maximum power conversion efficiency of 0.71%.