Benzotriazole-Based Donor-Acceptor-Acceptor Electron Donors for Vacuum-Deposited Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells

Three novel donor-acceptor-acceptor configured small molecules with benzotriazole as the central A building block are synthesized as donor materials for vacuum-deposited small-molecule organic solar cells (SMOSCs). The effects of different lengths of the side chains attached to the benzotriazole block on the molecular structure, electrochemical behavior, and optical properties of these donors are investigated systematically. Vacuum-deposited SMOSCs fabricated with these small molecule donors and C-70 as the acceptor exhibit power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in the range of 6.42-7.43% under air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) 100 mW cm(-2) simulated solar illumination. Furthermore, the Me-DTDCPT-based devices deliver a promising PCE of 14.84% under 600 lux illumination by a fluorescent lamp, demonstrating its potential in indoor photovoltaic applications.