High open circuit voltage in efficient thiophene-based small molecule solution processed organic solar cells

We have synthesized and fully characterized an oligothiophene small organic molecule for its use as electron donor moiety in solution processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells. Our results show that device solvent annealing process of the conjugated oligothiophene molecule leads to a light-to-energy conversion efficiency of 3.75% under standard illumination conditions. The solar cell presents open-circuit voltage and fill factors as high as 1.01 V and 63.05% respectively, which are among the highest values obtained for small molecule solution processed organic solar cells. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.