Novel materials for advanced applications in organic electronics and photonics: molecular and supramolecular aspects.

The present PhD thesis has been focused on a wide range investigation on novel organic chromophores of potential interest in the field of organic electronics and photonics. In particular, the Project has contemplated the exploration of novel molecular structures for two main applicative areas, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and Bulk Heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells that represent the newest generations of photovoltaic technology and that are gaining a growing interest in the recent years as a consequence of the rapid depletion of fossil fuel energy sources and of the environmental issues connected to their use. In particular regarding DSSCs two classes of photosensitizers have been synthesized and characterized: donor acceptor donor pyran derivatives and heterocyclic chromophores containing triazolo-triazole group as innovative anchoring group. DSSCs devices have been fabricated and a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.8% has been obtained. For what concerne BHJ application three kinds of novel organic semiconductors have been synthesized and characterized: donor acceptor donor diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives, push-pull thiophene-thiazole molecules (both types prepared by direct heteroarylation reaction) and fused N-rich triazolo-triazine heteroaromatics. BHJ solar cells have been fabricated and a maximum PCE of 0.7% have been obtained.