BODIPY-core 1,7-diphenyl-substituted derivatives for photovoltaics and OLED applications.

In the current study we demonstrate an application of four previously synthesized 1,7-diphenyl-substituted BODIPY species for inverted photovoltaic cells and for organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Depending on the type of substituents or annulation of the pyridone rings these dyes exhibit spectral properties in the full visible region up to the near-infrared wavelengths. All the studied compounds show very strong visible absorption that can be ascribed to the low lying LUMO levels making them electronically suitable as acceptors for many donor materials. The best fabricated inverted photovoltaic device based on the BODYPI-core derivatives demonstrates a power conversion efficiency equal to 1.36% which is close to previously published reports for related species. Two kinds of deep red OLEDs (doped and undoped) with narrow electroluminescence spectra (full width at half maximum up to 45 nm) have been fabricated. Maximum brightness of 3900 cd m−2 and an external quantum efficiency by 2.3% were achieved for the best OLED structure. Image 1 • Several BODIPY-core derivatives have been used for the fabrication of OLEDs and inverted OPV cells. • The designed OLEDs are characterized by the deep-red emission and narrow spectra. • Inverted OPV cells demonstrates the clear dependence of performance on the energies of HOMO/LUMO levels. • Cyclic voltammetry measurements show the dependence of HOMO/LUMO energies on the chemical structure of BODIPY derivatives. • Quantum-chemical calculations support the electrochemical measurements and electronic spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]