Gold Corrole Complexes in Organic Photovoltaic Cells
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells using polymeric donor materials face challenges such as undefined molecular structures, batch-to-batch purity issues, low carrier mobility, and contamination by end groups, which hinder their efficiency and commercialization potential, prompting a shift back to small-molecule donor materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of gold corrole complexes as donor materials in OPV cells, which exhibit good charge mobility even at low concentrations, reducing production costs and enhancing device performance, with the gold center in a +3 oxidation state and a square planar geometry, coordinated by a corrole ligand, facilitating charge transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polymeric donor materials are used in OPV cells, then ease of manufacture and compatibility on flexible substrates are improved, but molecular structure definition, purity consistency, and carrier mobility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of donor material type from polymeric to small-molecule gold corrole complexes. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing materials with well-defined molecular structures, consistent purity, and high carrier mobility, while still maintaining ease of manufacture through solution processing techniques and compatibility with flexible substrates.
2Ease of operation
If polymeric donor materials are used in OPV cells, then ease of operation is improved, but power conversion efficiency and lifetime deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from polymeric to small-molecule gold corrole complexes, which provides well-defined molecular structures and high purity consistency. This parameter change simultaneously improves power conversion efficiency (up to 7.4%) and device lifetime, while maintaining ease of operation through simple solution processing methods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If polymeric donor materials are used in OPV cells, then compatibility on flexible substrates is improved, but carrier mobility and purity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the donor material parameter to small-molecule gold corrole complexes with defined molecular structures. This parameter change achieves high purity materials without batch-to-batch variation while maintaining compatibility with flexible substrates and solution processing, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The incorporation of gold corrole complexes in OPV cells achieves good power conversion efficiency and reduces production costs, contrary to previous findings, demonstrating effective charge mobility and potential for commercialization.
Implementation Method 1
Photovoltaic (PV) cell is one of the important devices to replace fossil fuel in electricity generation
Implementation Method 2
good charge mobility even at low concentrations, reducing production costs and enhancing device performance
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Described herein are organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells using gold complex(es) with as chemical structure of Structure (I) as active material wherein R1‐R15 are independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted aryl, acyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, alkylamino, nitro, acylamino, aralkyl, cyano, carboxyl, thio, styryl, aminocarbonyl, carbamoyl, aryloxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, hydroxyalkyl, or an alkoxycarbonyl group. The OPV cell can be fabricated by thermal deposition or solution process such as spin coat and printing.