Synthesis, spectral, electrochemical properties, and photovoltaic performance of structurally constrained BODIPY dyes with 4,4-dimethyltriphenylamine at the 2,6-positions

Novel symmetrical D-A-D type of BODIPY derivatives (DTPA-BDP) were synthesized successfully. The introduction of chromophoric units makes the molecule absorption wavelengths spanning the ranges of 300-800 nm and shifts the emission to 793 nm in red and near-infrared region. Bulk heterojunction solar cells with DTPA-BDPs as electron donor and PC61BM as electron acceptor exhibited photovoltaic properties with a power conversion efficiency of 0.77%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.70 V. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.