title: Evaluating thiophene electron-donor layers for the rapid assessment of boron subphthalocyanines as electron acceptors in organic photovoltaics: solution or vacuum deposition?
abstract: In this study, we consider the choice of a standard electron-donating material to be paired with boron subphthalocyanines (BsubPcs) to rapidly assess the viability of new BsubPc derivatives as electron-accepting materials within organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). Specifically, we evaluate the effectiveness of solution-cast poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) as an electron donor paired with BsubPc derivatives relative to vacuum-deposited sexithiophene (α-6T). By using fullerene (C60 ), boron subphthalocyanine chloride (Cl-BsubPc), and hexachloro boron subphthalocyanine chloride (Cl-Cl6 BsubPc) as electron acceptors, we find that devices made with α-6T outperform those with P3HT. However, the two thiophene-based materials show the same performance trends. Given the preservation of these trends, we can recommend either option for assessing the potential of new BsubPc derivatives; P3HT as a solution-cast electron-donor layer or α-6T as a vacuum-deposited alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5 (Canada).
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Josey
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Castrucci
authors.forename: Jeremy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Benoît H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lessard
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Bender
keywords: boron; deposition techniques; electron transfer; thiophenes; vacuum