Design of Isoindigo-Based Small-Molecule Donors for Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cell Applications in Combination with Nonfullerene Acceptors.

The development of small-molecule organic solar cells with the required efficiency depends on the information obtained from molecular-level studies. In this context, 39 small-molecule donors featuring isoindigo as an acceptor moiety have been meticulously crafted for potential applications in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. These molecules follow the D-A-D-A-D and D-A-π-D-π-A-D framework. Similar molecules considered in the previous experimental study (molecules R1 ((3,3″)-6,6″-(benzo[1,2-:4,5-']dithiophene-2,6-diyl)bis(1,1'-dimethyl-[3,3'-biindolinylidene]-2,2'-dione)) and R2 ((3,3″)-6,6″-(4,8-dimethoxybenzo[1,2-:4,5-']dithiophene-2,6-diyl)bis(1,1'-dimethyl-[3,3'-biindolinylidene]-2,2'-dione))) have been chosen as reference molecules. Molecules with and without π-spacers have been considered to understand the impact of the length of the π-spacer on intramolecular charge-transfer transitions and absorption properties. A detailed investigation is carried out to establish the relationship between the structure and photovoltaic parameters using density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory methods. The newly developed molecules exhibit better electronic, excited-state, and charge transport properties than the reference molecules. Additionally, model donor-acceptor interfaces are constructed by integrating the designed donor molecules with fullerene/nonfullerene acceptors. The electronic and excited-state properties of these interfaces are rigorously evaluated. Results elucidate that the donor comprising of isoindigo-bithiophene-pyrroloindacenodithiophene (IIG-T-PIDT) emerges as a promising candidate for bulk heterojunction solar cells based on nonfullerene acceptors. This research provides systematic design strategies for the development of small-molecule donors for organic solar cells.