The preparation and properties of bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells with indole-containing fulleropyrrolidine derivatives as acceptors

Two indole-containing fullerene derivatives, N-hydrogen-2-[3-(N-2-ethylhexylindolyl)][60]fulleropyrrolidine (EHIHC60P), and N-(2-ethylhexylindolyl))-2-[3-(N-2-ethylhexylindolyl)][60]fulleropyrrolidine (DEHIC60P) were synthesized by the typical Prato reaction. The absorption spectra, electrochemical properties of the two compounds were measured. Inverted solar cells were fabricated with the structure of ITO/ZnO/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):fullerene derivatives/MoO3/Ag. The highest power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 3.32% and 3.23% were obtained for P3HT/EHIHC60P and P3HT/DEHIC60P based solar cells at the composite ratio of 1:1 after the active layers were annealed at 150 °C under inert atmosphere, with a open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.66 V and 0.74 V, respectively. For comparison, the device based on P3HT/PCBM at the same conditions showed the PCE of 3.28%, with a Voc of 0.61 V. The influence on the photovoltaic property of the fullerene derivatives, which was induced by some subtle changes in the chemical structure was compared and discussed.