biostudies-literatureUnknown11(63)Li MThree novel A-D-A type small-molecule donor materials, namely AAN-DPP₂, AAN(T-DPP)₂ and AANT(T-DPP)₂, with anthanthrene (AAN) as the electron-donating core, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as the electron-accepting moiety, and thiophene as π-bridge units, have been designed and synthesized for application in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs). Compared to AAN-DPP₂, devices based on AAN(T-DPP)₂ and AANT(T-DPP)₂ show better photovoltaic performance due to broader absorption and better planarity of the molecular backbone. A maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.33% with a short-circuit current density (<i>J</i> _sc) of 6.82 mA cm^-2 and a fill factor (FF) of 39.80 was obtained in the AARSC advances39625-39635https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9044804biostudies-literatureAdjusting the photovoltaic performance of big fused ring-based small molecules by tailoring with different modifications.PMC9044804Xiao MLi ZLi MfalseAdjusting the photovoltaic performance of big fused ring-based small molecules by tailoring with different modifications.Three novel A-D-A type small-molecule donor materials, namely AAN-DPP₂, AAN(T-DPP)₂ and AANT(T-DPP)₂, with anthanthrene (AAN) as the electron-donating core, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as the electron-accepting moiety, and thiophene as π-bridge units, have been designed and synthesized for application in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs). Compared to AAN-DPP₂, devices based on AAN(T-DPP)₂ and AANT(T-DPP)₂ show better photovoltaic performance due to broader absorption and better planarity of the molecular backbone. A maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.33% with a short-circuit current density (<i>J</i> _sc) of 6.82 mA cm^-2 and a fill factor (FF) of 39.80 was obtained in the AA2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Dec2025-04-05T11:07:54.226Z2025-04-05T11:07:54.226ZS-EPMC90448043549413410.1039/d1ra08239f