| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78850 | Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells | 2011 | 8 Pages |
A series of three porphyrins varying only in the steric bulk of their peripheral groups have been synthesised and integrated into the active layer of bulk heterojunction solar cells. The porphyrins broaden the spectral response of the device and contribute to the total photocurrent generated. More importantly, the device characteristics change systematically with increasing steric bulk on the peripheral meso phenyl groups of the tetra-phenyl porphyrin. Optical, scanning probe and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy are used to demonstrate that the observed changes do not arise from morphological differences in film structure. Cyclic voltammetry, UV–vis spectroscopy and DFT calculations are used to establish that the porphyrin LUMO, HOMO and bandgap are independent of side group. We conclude that the variations in open-circuit voltage with side group are the result of the porphyrin acting as a bimolecular recombination centre, with an efficiency that is dependent on the side group type. The possibility of designing optimised macromolecules for OPV devices based on an understanding the effect of porphyrin steric bulk upon device performance is discussed.
Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Porphyrins as photosensitisers in organic solar cells. ► Porphyrins act as sites for enhanced charge recombination within the devices. ► Increased porphyrin steric bulk increases initial charge separation distance. ► Increased charge separation reduces recombination and increases device efficicency.
