PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRON TRANSPORT MATERIAL

Abstract

A process of dissolving

##STR00001##

in a solvent to produce a first mixture. To the first mixture a reagent is added to produce a second mixture. A HRR is then added to the second mixture to produce a third mixture. The third mixture is then refluxed to produce

##STR00002##

Claims

1. A process comprising: a) dissolving ##STR00017## in a solvent to produce a first mixture; b) adding a reagent to the first mixture to produce a second mixture; c) adding a HRR to the second mixture to produce a third mixture; d) refluxing the third mixture to produce ##STR00018##

2. The process of claim 1, wherein ##STR00019## is [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric acid methyl ester.

3. The process of claim 1, R is selected from the group consisting of: H, CH.sub.3, carbonate, SH, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, OH, Si, NH.sub.2, and any alkyl chain.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the solvent is an organic solvent.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: dichlorobenzene, chlorobenzene, xylene, toluene, chloroform, tetrahydronaphthalene, carbon disulfide, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, hexane, cyclohexane, tetrahydrofuran and isopropanol.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the reagent selected is able to cleave R from ##STR00020##

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the reagent is a metal oxide.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the reagent is dibutyltin (IV) oxide, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid or a combination of the mentioned reagents is used.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: N, O, S, C, or B.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR00021##

11. The process of claim 1, wherein ##STR00022## is selected from the group consisting of: [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-(2-aminoethyl)acetamide, [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester, and [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein ##STR00023## is used as an electron transport material in an organic photovoltaic device.

13. A process comprising: a) dissolving [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric acid methyl ester in 1,2-dichlorobenzene, under an oxygen free environment, to produce a first mixture; b) adding dibutyltin(IV) oxide to the first mixture to produce a second mixture; c) adding 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethan-1-ol to the second mixture to produce a third mixture; and d) refluxing the third mixture to produce [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester.

14. A process comprising: a) dissolving [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric acid methyl ester in 1,2-dichlorobenzene, under an oxygen free environment, to produce a first mixture; b) adding dibutyltin(IV) oxide to the first mixture to produce a second mixture; c) adding 2-(dimethylamino)ethan-1-ol to the second mixture to produce a third mixture; and d) refluxing the third mixture to produce [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester.

15. An electron transport material selected from the group consisting of: [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester and [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester.

16. The electron transport material of claim 15, wherein the thickness is less than 100 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete understanding of the present invention and benefits thereof may be acquired by referring to the follow description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 depicts the process to produce

##STR00005##

[0012] FIG. 2 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester at .sup.1H NMR.

[0013] FIG. 3 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester at .sup.13C NMR.

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester at .sup.1H NMR.

[0015] FIG. 5 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester at .sup.13C NMR.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Turning now to the detailed description of the preferred arrangement or arrangements of the present invention, it should be understood that the inventive features and concepts may be manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated. The scope of the invention is intended only to be limited by the scope of the claims that follow.

[0017] The present embodiment describes a process to produce

##STR00006##

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the process begins by dissolving

##STR00007##

in a solvent to produce a first mixture, step 101. To the first mixture a reagent is added to produce a second mixture, step 103. A HRR is then added to the second mixture to produce a third mixture, step 105. The third mixture is then refluxed to produce

##STR00008##

step 107.

[0019] In one embodiment R can be selected from groups such as H, CH.sub.3, carbonate, SH, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, OH, Si, NH.sub.2, and any alkyl chains

[0020] As described above step 101 begins by dissolving

##STR00009##

in a solvent to produce a first mixture. Any conventionally known solvent capable of dissolving

##STR00010##

can be used. In one example the solvent used can be any conventionally known solvent organic solvent. Examples of organic solvents can include dichlorobenzene, chlorobenzene, xylene, toluene, chloroform, tetrahydronaphthalene, carbon disulfide, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol, hexane, cyclohexane, tetrahydrofuran and isopropanol. Any conventionally known method of dissolving

##STR00011##

in the solvent can be used. These methods include mixing, stirring, heating and sonicating.

[0021] In step 103, a reagent can be added to the first mixture to produce a second mixture. These reagents used can be any agent able to cleave R from

##STR00012##

The addition of the reagent to the first mixture is ideally done in an oxygen-free environment but not required. In one embodiment the agent is a metal oxide. In another embodiment the reagent is an acid. In another embodiment the reagent is dibutyltin (IV) oxide, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, or acetic acid. In another embodiment a combination of the mentioned reagents is used.

[0022] In step 105, a HRR can be added to the second mixture to produce a third mixture. In one embodiment R is selected from either N, O, S, C, or B. In other embodiment R can be alkyl chains or substituted alkyl chains. Examples of substitutions for the substituted alkyl chains include halogens, N, Br, O, Si, or S. In one example R is O, and R can be selected from

##STR00013##

[0023] In step 107, the third mixture is then refluxed to produce

##STR00014##

Dependent upon the selection of HRR

##STR00015##

could be [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester or [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester. The molar ratios of the chemical used can be.

TABLE-US-00001 Chemical Molar Ratio [00016] 1 0.9 Reagent 200 199 HRR 200 199

[0024] The following examples of certain embodiments of the invention are given. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, one of many embodiments of the invention, and the following examples should not be read to limit, or define, the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

[0025] [6,6]-Phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric acid methyl ester (0.5 g, 0.55 mmol) was dissolved in dry 1,2-dichlorobenzene (25 mL) in a dry schlenk flask under argon. Dibutyltin(IV) oxide (0.014 g, 0.055 mmol) was added in one portion. 2-(2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethan-1-ol (0.18 g, 1.1 mmol) was added via syringe and the solution was heated to reflux for 72 hours. The solution was cooled and poured directly onto a column of silica gel packed with toluene. The product [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester was isolated as a highly viscous black oil (0.34 g, 65% yield).

EXAMPLE 2

[0026] [6,6]-Phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric acid methyl ester (0.25 g, 0.274 mmol) was dissolved in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (12 mL) in a dry schlenk flask under argon. Dibutyltin(IV) oxide (0.014 g, 0.055 mmol) was added in one portion. 2-(Dimethylamino)ethan-1-ol (2 mL) was added in one portion and the solution heated to 150 C. for two hours. The solution was cooled and poured directly onto silica gel and eluted with toluene until all the 1,2-dichlorobenzene had flushed through. Then 6:1 toluene/triethylamine was eluted through to obtain pure product that was further purified by dissolving in chloroform (4 mL) and allowing methanol to slowly diffuse into the solution to form brown crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester (0.293 g, 55% yield).

NMR Spectroscopy

[0027] Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on a 400 NMR spectrometer, operating at 400.16 MHz for .sup.1H, and 100.04 MHz for .sup.13C.

[0028] FIG. 2 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester at .sup.1H NMR.

[0029] FIG. 3 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-triethyleneglycol ester at .sup.13C NMR.

[0030] FIG. 4 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester at .sup.1H NMR.

[0031] FIG. 5 depicts [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60-butyric-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl ester at .sup.13C NMR.

Performance Data

[0032] Average performance data of different organic photovoltaic devices using different electron transport layers were done.

TABLE-US-00002 Open- Short-circuit Power circuit current Fill Conversion Electronic voltage Voc density Factor Efficiency Transport layer (V) Jsc in mA/cm.sup.2 % % ZnO 0.785 15.9 65.9 8.24 ZnO: [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60- 0.752 16.0 57.6 7.01 butyric-N- triethyleneglycol ester ZnO: [6,6]-phenyl-C.sub.60- 0.765 16.2 59.9 7.47 butyric-N-2- dimethylaminoethyl ester

[0033] In closing, it should be noted that the discussion of any reference is not an admission that it is prior art to the present invention, especially any reference that may have a publication date after the priority date of this application. At the same time, each and every claim below is hereby incorporated into this detailed description or specification as an additional embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Although the systems and processes described herein have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Those skilled in the art may be able to study the preferred embodiments and identify other ways to practice the invention that are not exactly as described herein. It is the intent of the inventors that variations and equivalents of the invention are within the scope of the claims while the description, abstract and drawings are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is specifically intended to be as broad as the claims below and their equivalents.