In recent years, organic solar cells utilizing π-conjugated polymers have attracted widespread interest in both the academic and, increasingly, the commercial communities. These polymers are promising in terms of their electronic properties, low cost, versatility of functionalization, thin film flexibility, and ease of processing. These factors indicate that organic solar cells, although currently producing relatively low power conversion efficiencies (∼5-7%),1–3 compared to inorganic solar cells, have the potential to compete effectively with alternative solar cell technologies. However, in order for this to be feasible, the efficiencies of organic solar cells need further improvement. This is the focus of extensive studies worldwide. The backbone of a π-conjugated polymer is comprised of a linear series of overlapping pz orbitals that have formed via sp2 hybridization, thereby creating a conjugated chain of delocalized electron density. It is the interaction of these π electrons that dictates the electronic characteristics of the polymer. The energy levels become closely spaced as the delocalization length increases, resulting in a ‘band’ structure somewhat similar to that observed in inorganic solid-state semiconductors. In contrast to the latter, however, the primary photoexcitations in conjugated polymers are bound electron-hole pairs (excitons) rather than free charge carriers; this is largely due to their low dielectric constant and the presence of significant electron-lattice interactions and electron correlation effects.4 In the absence of a mechanism to dissociate the excitons into free charge carriers, the exciton will undergo radiative and nonradiative decay, with a typical exciton lifetime in the range from 100 ps to 1 ns. Achieving efficient charge photogeneration has long been recognized as a vital challenge for molecular-based solar cells. For example, the first organic solar cells were simple single-layer devices based on the pristine polymer and two electrodes of different work function. These devices, based on a Schottky diode structure, resulted in poor photocurrent efficiency.5–7 Relatively efficient photocurrent generation in an organic device was first reported by Tang in 1986,8 employing a vacuum-deposited CuPc/ perylene derivative donor/acceptor bilayer device. The differing electron affinities (and/or ionization potentials) between these two materials created an energy offset at their interface, thereby driving exciton dissociation. However, the efficiency of such bilayer devices is limited by the requirement of exciton diffusion to the donor/acceptor interface, typically requiring film thicknesses less than the optical absorption depth. Organic materials usually exhibit exciton diffusion lengths of ∼10 nm and optical absorption depths of 100 nm, although we note significant progress is now being made with organic materials with exciton diffusion lengths comparable to or exceeding their optical absorption depth.9–12 The observation of ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer13,14 from a conjugated polymer to C60 and the * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: j.durrant@ imperial.ac.uk. Chem. Rev. 2010, 110, 6736–6767 6736

Charge Photogeneration in Organic Solar Cells

Tetrathiafulvalenes, oligoacenenes, and their buckminsterfullerene derivatives: the brick and mortar of organic electronics.

The organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) is now a mature device that has developed tremendously during the last twenty years. The aim of this paper is to update previous reviews on that matter that have been published in the past. The operating mode of OTFTs is analyzed in view of recent model development. This mainly concerns the distribution of charges in the conducting channel and problems connected with contact resistance. We also delineate what differentiates n- and p-type semiconductors, and show how this concept differs from what it covers in conventional semiconductors. In the chapter devoted to fabrication techniques, emphasis is placed on solution-based techniques and particularly printing processes. Similarly, soluble materials are given a prominent place in the section dedicated to the performance of devices. Finally, special attention is given to devices at the nanoscale level, which demonstrate a new route toward molecular electronics.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0884291400094504

Organic thin film transistors: From theory to real devices

The solid-state structures of a series of bithiazole and thiophene oligomers, as well as a series of substituted pentacenes, are rationalized in terms of "pitch and roll" inclinations from an "ideal" cofacial pi-stack. Pitch inclinations translate adjacent molecules relative to one another in the direction of the long molecular axis, whereas roll inclinations translate the molecules along the short molecular axis. Thus, moderately large pitch distortions preserve pi-pi interactions between adjacent molecules, whereas roll translations greater than 2.5 A essentially destroy pi-pi overlap between adjacent molecules. The familiar herringbone packing is characterized by large roll distortions. It is shown that thiophenes tend to exhibit large roll translations, whereas thiazoles have small roll but large pitch translations. Substituted pentacenes tend to have both moderate pitch and roll distances. The relationship of molecular packing to transport properties is discussed.

Solid-State Packing of Conjugated Oligomers: From π-Stacks to the Herringbone Structure

Low band gap (Eg < 1.5 eV) polycyclic hydrocarbons have become one of the most important types of materials for many applications, for example, as semiconductors in organic field effect transistors (OFETs), as light-harvesting dyes in organic solar cells and photodetectors, as near infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes in high resolution bio-imaging and bio-sensing, and as chromophores in non-linear optics. The benzenoid polycyclic hydrocarbons as nano-sized graphene fragments also serve as perfect model compounds to understand the fundamental structure–property relationship of graphene. The ground state of these molecules can be described as either a closed-shell or an open-shell structure on the basis of their molecular size and edge structure. In this review, a summary will be given on a series of low band gap polycyclic hydrocarbons about their synthesis, physical properties and material applications.

J.Ph. Calbert

Papers

Electronic structure of π-conjugated oligomers and polymers: a quantum–chemical approach to transport properties