The innovation engine for new materials

Mingyang Cha

University: 

Fudan University, China

Major: 

Chemistry

Mentor(s): 

Jian Fan

Faculty Sponsor(s): 

Fred Wudl

Faculty Sponsor's Department: 

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: 

ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES: SYNTHESIS OF A NEW ELECTRON ACCEPTOR

Project Description: 

Organic charge-transporting materials based on rylene derivatives have attracted considerable attention due to their high thermal stability and unique electronic structure. They have been extensively studied and exhibit high electron mobility due to their excellent stability and high electron affinities. However, the higher rylene (terrylene, quaterrylene, etc.) derivatives have only recently been investigated and their fundamental properties are still not well explored. Recent study shows the tetraazaterrylene has great quality for the organic charge-transporting materials but cannot be used due to its low solubility.  Herein we start with acenaphthene to synthesize the tetraazaterrylene derivatives and explore their properties. Our method used long alkyl groups to improve solubility. More over we enlarged the conjugate system to improve the electron affinity and mobility. Further, we will work on the charge-transporting materials to explore the thermal stability and electron conductivity.