Tri(oxyethylene)-functionalised perylene diimide: a promising interlayer material for enhanced organic photovoltaic performance

Abstract

Interface engineering of organic semiconductors is critical for efficient charge extraction from organic photoactive layers to inorganic electrodes, which is a key factor in optimising organic solar cell performance. Incorporating polar groups into electron transport layer (ETL) materials can reduce their work function by forming appropriate dipoles between the photoactive layer and the electrode. This study reports a promising ETL material, 2,9-bis(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)anthra[2,1,9-def:6,5,10-d′e′f′]diisoquinoline-1,3,8,10(2H,9H)-tetraone, coded PDIAO, based on a perylene diimide (PDI) core with tri(oxyethylene) chains at the imide positions. PDIAO exhibited efficient energy l..