An electron-accepting molecular unit exhibiting an orientational preference favorable for organic photovoltaic applications

Control of molecular orientation of organic semiconductor is essential for efficient light absorption and charge-carrier transport in organic optoelectronic devices. We synthesized compound 1 as a fundamental electron-accepting building block for the design of n-type semiconductors and conducting polymers. We found that this molecule, upon evaporation onto a substrate such as SiO2 and electron-donor films, spontaneously assembles with a face-on orientation relative to the substrate surface. This orientation is favorable for thin-film organic photovoltaics. Despite relatively small π-conjugation, 1 showed strong absorption in visible-light region and an appropriate lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy for electron transfer with electron donors including copper phthalocyanine and poly(3-hexylthiophene). Accordingly, thin-film devices, fabricated using 1 and electron donors, exhibited a clear photovoltaic response. This suggests that compound 1 provides a promising building block for the development of active materials in organic photovoltaics.