Quinacridone-based electron transport layers for enhanced performance in bulk-heterojunction solar cells

A water/alcohol-soluble small molecule based on the commercially available pigment quinacridone is employed as an electron transport layer in organic photovoltaics. The quinacridone derivative is utilized in solution-processed bulk-heterojunction solar cells to improve primarily the fill factor of the devices, contributing to an upwards of 19% enhancement in the power conversion efficiency relative to the control devices with no electron transport layer. The facile synthesis of the quinacridone derivative coupled with the ease of device fabrication via solution processing provide a simple, yet effective means of improving the performance of existing organic photovoltaic cells. The performance of organic photovoltaic cells is enhanced by the addition of an electron transport layer composed of a water/alcohol-soluble quinacridone derivative. An upwards of 19% enhancement in power conversion efficiency is achieved primarily through improvements in the fill factor.