Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Sensitization of fullerenes by covalent attachment of a diketopyrrolopyrrole chromophore
 
research article

Sensitization of fullerenes by covalent attachment of a diketopyrrolopyrrole chromophore

Banerji, Natalie Renuka  
•
Wang, Mingfeng
•
Fan, Jian
Show more
2012
Journal of Materials Chemistry

In an effort to develop new materials for organic solar cell applications, we have synthesized triads of 3,6-dithien-2-yl-2,5-dialkylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione (DTDPP) covalently linked at the nitrogen positions to two [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid ester (PCB) units via alkyl chains of different lengths. We present here the excited-state properties of the compounds in solution, as investigated by (time-resolved) spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of the triads are the composite of the ones recorded with the separate fullerene and DTDPP parent molecules, indicating weak electronic coupling between the sub-units. However, the fluorescence quantum yield drops from 74% in pure DTDPP to <1% in the triads, in both polar o-dichlorobenzene (DCB) and non-polar toluene (TOL). According to the energy levels determined by cyclic voltammetry for the parent compounds, charge separation (CS) or excitation energy transfer (EET) could be responsible for the quenching. However, femtosecond-resolved transient absorption (TA) measurements revealed the quenching mechanism to be highly efficient EET from the DTDPP to the PCB moieties. Ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy showed multiphasic EET dynamics, due to different molecular conformations induced by the flexibility of the alkyl linkers, with time constants ranging from the sub-picosecond to the 100–150 ps scale. The DTDPP chromophore thus acts as a sensitizer (or light-absorbing antenna) to channel light towards the fullerenes, which have low absorbance in the visible range. The ultrafast time scale of the EET leading to fast population of the PCB singlet excited state is particularly interesting for potential use of the systems to increase light harvesting in photovoltaic devices containing fullerenes.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

Sensitization.pdf

Type

Publisher's Version

Version

Published version

Access type

openaccess

Size

945.56 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

58686e8ba439dca76c87fe5ae5d12af6

Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés