New acceptor–π-porphyrin–π-acceptor systems for solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells

• 1a and 1b show excellent light harvesting properties and thermal stability.
• Photovoltaic devices displayed a moderate PCE (1b: 3.21%).
• Extension of the conjugation results in higher Jsc and FF values.

Two new conjugated acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–π-D–π-A) compounds having a Zn-porphyrin acting as donor and linked by ethynylenes to one or two units of thienylenevinylene and capped by dicyanovinylene groups as acceptor units have been synthesized and their photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated. These compounds were used as donor materials and PC61BM and PC71BM were used as acceptors in solution-processed bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells and the best photoconversion efficiency (PCE) obtained was 3.21%.

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