New acceptor–π-porphyrin–π-acceptor systems for solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells

Abstract Two new conjugated acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–π-D–π-A) compounds having a Zn-porphyrin acting as donor and linked by ethynylenes to one or two units of thienylenevinylene and capped by dicyanovinylene groups as acceptor units have been synthesized and their photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated. These compounds were used as donor materials and PC 61 BM and PC 71 BM were used as acceptors in solution-processed bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells and the best photoconversion efficiency (PCE) obtained was 3.21%.