Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) functionalized tetrathienothiophene (TTA) small molecules for organic thin film transistors and photovoltaic cells

Abstract

Two novel π-conjugated small molecules based on the electron-deficient diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and the electron-rich fused tetrathienoacene (TTA) frameworks are synthesized and characterized. As verified in the bandgap compression of these chromophores by electrochemistry and density functional theory (DFT) computation, these DPP-TAA derivatives exhibit substantial conjugation and ideal MO energetics for light absorption. The large fused TTA core and strong intermolecular S⋯S interactions enforce excellent molecular planarity, favoring a close-packed thin film morphologies for efficient charge transport, as indicated by grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Top-gate/bottom-contact thin film transistors based on these systems exhibit hole mobilities approaching 0.1 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Organic photovoltaic cells based on DDPP-TTAR:PC₇₁BM blends achieve power conversion efficiencies (PCE) > 4% by systematic morphology tuning and judicious solvent additive selection.