Organic solar cell and photodetector materials and devices

A composition of matter, comprising:

• an organic semiconducting molecule having an A-D′-D-D″-A structure, wherein:
• D′ is a first donor moiety,
• D is a second donor moiety different from D′,
• D″ is a third donor moiety different from D and D′ to make the organic semiconducting molecule asymmetric, and
• A is an acceptor moiety;
• and
• wherein D′ and D″ are selected from:
• and
• wherein each R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• Z is O, S, Se, or N—R6, and Y is O, S, or N—R6,
• wherein D is one of the following:
• where each R1 and R3 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• X is C, Si, Ge, N or P;
• Y is O, S, Se or N—R3;
• each Ar is independently a substituted or non-substituted aromatic functional group, or each Ar is independently nothing and the valence of its respective thiophene ring is completed with hydrogen, or
• wherein D is one of the following:
• where each R1 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• X is C, Si, Ge, N or P;
• and Y is O, S, Se or N—R3, or
• wherein D is one of the following:
• where each R, R1, R2 and R3 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• X is C, Si, Ge, N or P;
• and Y is O, S, Se or N—R3;
• and
• A has the structure:
• wherein EWG is any electron withdrawing group.

A method of making a device, comprising:

• solution processing a composition of matter including electron donor molecules and electron acceptor molecules of the structure A-D′-D-D″-A structure, wherein:
• D′ is a first donor moiety,
• D is a second donor moiety different from D′,
• D″ is a third donor moiety different from D and D′ to make the organic semiconducting molecule asymmetric, and
• A is an acceptor moiety,
• combining the composition of matter with an additive so that:
• the plurality of the electron donor molecules and the plurality of electron acceptor molecules are phase separated,
• the electron acceptor molecules are disposed in a hierarchical network and
• the electron donor molecules occupy spaces in the hierarchical network;
• and
• wherein D′ and D″ are selected from:
• and
• wherein each R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• Z is O, S, Se, or N—R6, R4 can be Z—R2;
• R5 can be the same;
• and Y is O, S, Se, or N—R6;
• and R3 is different from Z—R2;
• wherein D is one of the following:
• where each R1 and R3 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• X is C, Si, Ge, N or P;
• Y is O, S, Se or N—R3;
• each Ar is independently a substituted or non-substituted aromatic functional group, or each Ar is independently nothing and the valence of its respective thiophene ring is completed with hydrogen, or
• wherein D is one of the following:
• where each R1 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• X is C, Si, Ge, N or P;
• and Y is O, S, Se or N—R3, or
• wherein D is one of the following:
• where each R, R1, R2 and R3 is independently hydrogen or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl, aryl or alkoxy chain;
• X is C, Si, Ge, N or P;
• and Y is O, S, Se or N—R3;
• and
• A has the structure:
• wherein EWG is any electron withdrawing group.