Bulk heterojunction solar cells based on a novel small molecule (DRDTSBDTT) were systematically investigated to understand the impact of thermal annealing on Voc, Jsc and FF.
New donor–linker–acceptor pattern organic dye containing a dithienosilole unit as a π-conjugated system, a carbazole moiety as an electron donor, and a cyanoacrylic acid unit as an electron acceptor was synthesized for application in dye-sensitizedsolarcell (DSSC). Its photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated, the dithienosilole unit could dramatically lower the lowest unoccupied