Dani M. Lyons

Low noise, IR-blind organohalide perovskite photodiodes for visible light detection and imaging.

Solution-processed organohalide perov-skite photodiodes that have performance metrics matching silicon, but are infrared-blind are reported. The perovskite photodiodes operate in the visible band, have low dark current and noise, high specific detectivity, large linear dynamic range, and fast temporal response. Their properties make them promising candidates for imaging applications.

Spectral Dependence of the Internal Quantum Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells: Effect of Charge Generation Pathways

The conventional picture of photocurrent generation in organic solar cells involves photoexcitation of the electron donor, followed by electron transfer to the acceptor via an interfacial charge-transfer state (Channel I). It has been shown that the mirror-image process of acceptor photoexcitation leading to hole transfer to the donor is also an efficient means to generate photocurrent (Channel II). The donor and acceptor components may have overlapping or distinct absorption characteristics. Hence, different excitation wavelengths may preferentially activate one channel or the other, or indeed both. As such, the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the solar cell may likewise depend on the excitation wavelength. We show that several model high-efficiency organic solar cell blends, notably PCDTBT:PC70BM and PCPDTBT:PC60/70BM, exhibit flat IQEs across the visible spectrum, suggesting that charge generation is occurring either via a dominant single channel or via both channels but with comparable efficiencies. In contrast, blends of the narrow optical gap copolymer DPP-DTT with PC70BM show two distinct spectrally flat regions in their IQEs, consistent with the two channels operating at different efficiencies. The observed energy dependence of the IQE can be successfully modeled as two parallel photodiodes, each with its own energetics and exciton dynamics but both having the same extraction efficiency. Hence, an excitation-energy dependence of the IQE in this case can be explained as the interplay between two photocurrent-generating channels, without recourse to hot excitons or other exotic processes.

Ion-Regulated Allosteric Binding of Fullerenes (C60 and C70) by Tetrathiafulvalene-Calix[4]pyrroles

The effect of ionic species on the binding of fullerenes (C60 and C70) by tetrathiafulvalene-calix[4]pyrrole (TTF-C4P) receptors and the nature of the resulting supramolecular complexes (TTF-C4P + fullerene + halide anion + tetraalkylammonium cation) was studied in the solid state through single crystal X-ray diffraction methods and in dichloromethane solution by means of continuous variation plots and UV-vis spectroscopic titrations. These analyses revealed a 1:1 stoichiometry between the anion-bound TTF-C4Ps and the complexed fullerenes. The latter guests are bound within the bowl-like cup of the C4P in a ball-and-socket binding mode. The interactions between the TTF-C4P receptors and the fullerene guests are highly influenced by both the nature of halide anions and their counter tetraalkylammonium cations. Three halides (F(-), Cl(-), and Br(-)) were studied. All three potentiate the binding of the two test fullerenes by inducing a conformational change from the 1,3-alternate to the cone conformer of the TTF-C4Ps, thus acting as positive heterotropic allosteric effectors. For a particular halide anion, the choice of tetraalkylammonium salts serves to modulate the strength of the TTF-C4P-fullerene host-guest binding interactions and, in conjunction with variations in the halide anion, can be exploited to alter the inherent selectivity of the host for a given fullerene. Differences in binding are reflected in the excited state optical properties. Overall, the present four-component system provides an illustration of how host-guest binding events involving appropriately designed artificial receptors can be fine-tuned via the addition of simple ionic species as allosteric modulators.

A supramolecular porphyrin–ferrocene–fullerene triad

A ferrocene (Fc) functionalized bis-porphyrin molecule has been synthesized as a host for fullerenes. The porphyrin used in these studies was prepared using a mixed boronic acid Suzuki reaction, which gives A2BC type porphyrins in high yield. The bis-porphyrin was characterized through 1H NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectroscopy and analyzed via molecular modeling studies. Complexation experiments with fullerenes utilizing both UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated formation of strong complexes for the bis-porphyrin. A short-lived charge transfer luminescent state is detected for the fullerene adducts. Owing to the tight coupling of the fullerene and porphyrin partners, the host-appended Fc moiety does not show a direct role in the pattern of photoinduced processes upon excitation of either chromophores, but causes blue-shift of the NIR CT luminescence compared to previously investigated systems without appended fragments. Instead, the active role of Fc in photoinduced processes is observed for the guest molecules alone, where photoinduced energy transfer from the porphyrin to the ferrocene occurs.

Inhibition of the cellular function of perforin by 1-amino-2,4-dicyanopyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles.

A high throughput screen showed the ability of a 1-amino-2,4-dicyanopyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole analogue to directly inhibit the lytic activity of the pore-forming protein perforin. A series of analogues were prepared to study structure-activity relationships (SAR) for the this activity, either directly added to cells or released in situ by KHYG-1 NK cells, at non-toxic concentrations. These studies showed that the pyridobenzimidazole moiety was required for effective activity, with strongly basic centres disfavoured. This class of compounds was relatively unaffected by the addition of serum, which was not the case for a previous class of direct inhibitors.

Exploration of a series of 5-arylidene-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones as inhibitors of the cytolytic protein perforin.

A series of novel 5-arylidene-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones were investigated as inhibitors of the lymphocyte-expressed pore-forming protein perforin. Structure–activity relationships were explored through variation of an isoindolinone or 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinone subunit on a fixed 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one/thiophene core. The ability of the resulting compounds to inhibit the lytic activity of both isolated perforin protein and perforin delivered in situ by natural killer cells was determined. A number of compounds showed excellent activity at concentrations that were nontoxic to the killer cells, and several were a significant improvement on previous classes of inhibitors, being substantially more potent and soluble. Representative examples showed rapid and reversible binding to immobilized mouse perforin at low concentrations (≤2.5 μM) by surface plasmon resonance and prevented formation of perforin pores in target cells despite effective target cell engagement, as determined by calcium influx studies. Mouse PK studies of two analogues showed T1/2 values of 1.1–1.2 h (dose of 5 mg/kg iv) and MTDs of 60–80 mg/kg (ip).

Electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of thiophene and fluorene oligomers. Benzoyl peroxide as a coreactant for oligomerization of thiophene dimers

The electrochemical properties of oligomers of thiophene (with number of monomer units, n, from 2 to 12) and fluorene (n = 3 to 7) were investigated. Both sets of oligomers were characterized by the presence of two oxidation and two reduction waves as determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), with the reversibility of the waves depending on the structural properties of the compounds. The addition or removal of a third electron was found to be difficult relative to the second, a finding shown for conjugated oligomers with chain lengths up to 7 in the case of the fluorenes and up to 12 for the thiophenes. The oligothiophenes showed a larger separation between the electrochemical waves for the same chain length, and also substantial electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) signals, whose intensity increased with oligomer size. In contrast, the ECL intensity of the fluorene oligomers was essentially independent of chain length. The ECL spectra for the thiophene dodecamer were obtained with concentrations as low as 20 pM, a result that reflects a high ECL efficiency, close to that of the well-known ECL standard Ru(bpy)32+. Oligomers were also formed on electrochemical reduction of an appropriately functionalized dimer in the presence of benzoyl peroxide producing a longer wavelength emission (maximum at ∼540 nm) as opposed to the spectrum of the dimer (λem = 390 nm).

Porphyrin–oligothiophene conjugates as additives for P3HT/PCBM solar cells

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/fullerene (P3HT/PCBM) bulk heterojunction solar cells is enhanced through the addition of Ni(II) porphyrin–oligothiophene conjugates to typical P3HT/PCBM blends. The introduction of the porphyrin dyes increases the efficiency by up to 63 ± 20% compared with P3HT/PCBM control devices containing no additives. Moreover, external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements show a 10 ± 5% enhancement in photocurrent compared to control blends. These results lead us to conclude that the photo-induced dissociation of P3HT excitons is promoted in the presence of the Ni(II) porphyrin–oligothiophenes and that the Ni(II) porphyrin subunits act as light-harvesting sensitizers as well as energy conduits for the P3HT excitons at P3HT/PCBM interfaces.

Synthesis and Complexation Studies of a Convex Bis-porphyrin Tweezer—A Molecular Capsule Precursor

The synthesis and spectroscopic studies of a convex bis-porphyrin based molecular tweezer are reported. The complexation of small bidentate ligands by metallated derivatives of the bis-porphyrin host were monitored through UV–visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy and yielded large association constants.

Tuning the Optoelectronic Properties of Nonfullerene Electron Acceptors

Broad spectral coverage over the solar spectrum is necessary for photovoltaic technologies and is a focus for organic solar cells. We report a series of small-molecule, nonfullerene electron acceptors containing the [(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-yl)methylene]malononitrile unit as a high electron affinity component. The optoelectronic properties of these molecules were fine-tuned with the objective of attaining strong absorption at longer wavelengths by changing the low-ionization-potential moiety. The electron-accepting function of these materials was investigated with poly(3-n-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as a standard electron donor. Significant photocurrent generation in the near infrared region, with an external quantum yield reaching as high as 22 % at 700 nm and an onset >800 nm was achieved. The results support efficient hole transfer to P3HT taking place after light absorption by the acceptor molecules. A Channel II-dominated power conversion efficiency of up to 1.5 % was, thus, achieved.