BODIPY derivatives with near infra-red absorption as small molecule donors for bulk heterojunction solar cells.

The study of small donor molecules as the active component of organic solar cells continues to attract considerable attention due to the range of advantages these molecules have over their polymeric counterparts. Here we report the synthesis and solar cell fabrication of three BODIPY small molecule donors. Two of the dyes feature triphenylamine and phenothiazine as donor units attached to the and α-positions of the BODIPY core (TPA-PTZ-DBP and PTZ-TPA-BDP).