Effect of Halogenation on the Energetics of Pure and Mixed Phases in Model Organic Semiconductors Composed of Anthradithiophene Derivatives and C60

Abstract

Halogenation, particularly fluorination, is commonly used to manipulate the energetics, stability, and morphology of organic semiconductors. In the case of organic photovoltaics (OPVs), fluorination of electron donor molecules or polymers at appropriate positions can lead to improved performance. In this contribution, we use ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, external quantum efficiency measurements of charge-transfer (CT) states, and density functional theory calculations to systematically investigate the effects of halogenation on the bulk solid-state energetics of model anthradithiophene (ADT) materials, their interfacial energetics with C60, and the energetics of various ADT:C60 blend compositions. In agreement with previous work, nonhalogenated ADT molecules show higher energy CT states in blends with C60 and lower energy CT states in the ADT/C60 bilayers. However, this trend is reversed in the halogenated ADT/C60 systems, wherein the CT state energies of ADT:C60 blends are lower than those in t...