Synthesis of Fullerene Derivatives for the Application to Organic Photovoltaic Cell and n-Channel Organic Thin-Film Transistors

Abstract

We synthesize solution processable C-60 derivatives, including thien[3,2-b]thienyl C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (TThCBM), 5-(2,3,4,6-tetramethoxyphenyl) C-61-butyric acid isobutyl ester (TMPCBIB), and selenyl C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (SeCBM) and apply those molecules as an electron accepter in bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic cell (OPVs) and n-channel semiconducting materials in organic field effect transistors (OFETs). Best OPVs with SeCBM and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) as the electron acceptor and donor show a slightly improved power conversion efficiency of 4.22% from that of [6,6]-phenyl C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM):P3HT device of 4.0% by improvement of J(sc). In addition, a comparable and slightly better electron mobility of 0.5 cm(2)/Vs is achieved with SeCBM OFETs from PCBM OFETs of 0.4 cm(2)/Vs.