Visibly Transparent, Ultraviolet-Absorbing and Near-Infrared-Absorbing Photovoltaic Devices

A visibly transparent photovoltaic device comprising:

• a visibly transparent substrate;
• a first visibly transparent electrode coupled to the visibly transparent substrate;
• a second visibly transparent electrode above the first visibly transparent electrode;
• a first visibly transparent photoactive layer between the first visibly transparent electrode and the second visibly transparent electrode, wherein the first visibly transparent photoactive layer exhibits an average visible band absorption of 70% or less and comprises a first photoactive compound that exhibits a first maximum near-infrared or ultraviolet absorption strength and a first maximum visible absorption strength, wherein the first maximum near-infrared or ultraviolet absorption strength is greater than the first maximum visible absorption strength, and wherein the first photoactive compound is a quinoidal compound with a molecular weight of less than 700 amu and having the formula:
• wherein:
• each R group is independently a hydrogen, a halogen, a cyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted fused aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted fused heteroaromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, or wherein two or more R groups form a substituted or unsubstituted ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted fused ring group,
• n is 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, and
• a second visibly transparent photoactive layer between the first visibly transparent electrode and the second visibly transparent electrode and in direct contact with the first visibly transparent photoactive layer, wherein the second visibly transparent photoactive layer exhibits an average visible band absorption of 70% or less and comprises a second photoactive compound exhibiting a second maximum absorption strength in the near-infrared or ultraviolet and a second maximum visible absorption strength, wherein the second maximum absorption strength in the near-infrared or ultraviolet is greater than the second maximum visible absorption strength.

A visibly transparent photovoltaic device comprising:

• a visibly transparent substrate;
• a first visibly transparent electrode coupled to the visibly transparent substrate;
• a second visibly transparent electrode above the first visibly transparent electrode;
• a first visibly transparent photoactive layer between the first visibly transparent electrode and the second visibly transparent electrode, wherein the first visibly transparent photoactive layer exhibits an average visible band absorption of 70% or less and comprises a first photoactive compound that exhibits a first maximum near-infrared or ultraviolet absorption strength and a first maximum visible absorption strength, wherein the first maximum near-infrared or ultraviolet absorption strength is greater than the first maximum visible absorption strength, and wherein the first photoactive compound is a quinoidal compound with a molecular weight less than 700 amu and having the formula:
• wherein
• each R group is independently a hydrogen, a halogen, a cyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted fused aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted fused heteroaromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, or wherein two or more R groups form a substituted or unsubstituted ring group or a substituted or unsubstituted fused ring group,
• m is 2, 3, 4, or 5, and
• each X is independently O, N—R, S, or Se;
• and
• a second visibly transparent photoactive layer between the first visibly transparent electrode and the second visibly transparent electrode and in direct contact with the first visibly transparent photoactive layer, wherein the second visibly transparent photoactive layer exhibits an average visible band absorption of 70% or less and comprises a second photoactive compound exhibiting a second maximum absorption strength in the near-infrared or ultraviolet and a second maximum visible absorption strength, wherein the second maximum absorption strength in the near-infrared or ultraviolet is greater than the second maximum visible absorption strength;
• wherein absorption of ultraviolet or near-infrared light by the first photoactive compound drives formation and separation of electron-hole pairs, and wherein absorption of ultraviolet or near-infrared light by the second photoactive compound drives formation and separation of electron-hole pairs.