Functional 2-benzyl-1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenes as acceptors for organic photovoltaics: facile synthesis and high photovoltaic performances

A new series of functional 2-benzyl-1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenes, BnHCs, were synthesized efficiently via co-catalyzed selective monofunctionalization of C60 with functional benzyl bromides. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the new BnHCs were investigated. PSCs based on 2-MeO-4-CO2Me-BnHC as new acceptor and P3HT as donor showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.75%, which is comparable to that of PC61BM under the same device conditions.