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Low-cost synthesis of small molecule acceptors makes polymer solar cells commercially viable

Author

Listed:
  • Hongyuan Fu

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Jia Yao

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Ming Zhang

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Lingwei Xue

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Qiuju Zhou

    (Xinyang Normal University)

  • Shangyu Li

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Ming Lei

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Lei Meng

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhi-Guo Zhang

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Yongfang Li

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The acceptor-donor-acceptor (A–D–A) or A–DA’D–A structured small molecule acceptors (SMAs) have triggered substantial progress for polymer solar cells (PSCs). However, the high−cost of the SMAs impedes the commercial viability of such renewable energy, as their synthesis via the classical pyridine-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation usually suffers from low reaction efficiency and tedious purifying work-up. Herein, we developed a simple and cheap boron trifluoride etherate-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation for addressing this challenge, and found that the coupling of the aldehyde-terminated D unit and the A-end groups could be quantitatively finished in the presence of acetic anhydride within 15 minutes at room temperature. Compared with the conventional method, the high reaction efficiency of our method is related to the germinal diacetate pathway that is thermodynamically favorable to give the final products. For those high performing SMAs (such as ITIC-4F and Y6), the cost could be reduced by 50% compared with conventional preparation. In addition to the application in PSCs, our synthetic approach provides a facile and low-cost access to a wide range of D–A organic semiconductors for emerging technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongyuan Fu & Jia Yao & Ming Zhang & Lingwei Xue & Qiuju Zhou & Shangyu Li & Ming Lei & Lei Meng & Zhi-Guo Zhang & Yongfang Li, 2022. "Low-cost synthesis of small molecule acceptors makes polymer solar cells commercially viable," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31389-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31389-y
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    1. Yang Bai & Ze Zhang & Qiuju Zhou & Hua Geng & Qi Chen & Seoyoung Kim & Rui Zhang & Cen Zhang & Bowen Chang & Shangyu Li & Hongyuan Fu & Lingwei Xue & Haiqiao Wang & Wenbin Li & Weihua Chen & Mengyuan , 2023. "Geometry design of tethered small-molecule acceptor enables highly stable and efficient polymer solar cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Hongmei Zhuo & Xiaojun Li & Jinyuan Zhang & Can Zhu & Haozhe He & Kan Ding & Jing Li & Lei Meng & Harald Ade & Yongfang Li, 2023. "Precise synthesis and photovoltaic properties of giant molecule acceptors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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