Theoretical elucidation of the energy conversion rate in organic photovoltaic cells of the fullerene nanostructure derivatives. A density functional theory study

A comparative theoretical study of the kinetics of the Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between empty fullerene (C-60) and lithium ion encapsulated fullerene (Li+@C-60) with 1,3 cyclohexadiene (C6H8) was carried out. This reaction takes place in a photovoltaic cell. The effect of the encapsulated ion on the conversion rate of solar energy into electricity has been highlighted through calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). In addition, a static study using the global conceptual DFT indices, as part of the demonstration of the significant elec-trophilic power of the fullerene nanostructure, was carried out to show the effect of encapsulating the ion in this nanoparticle on the electrophilic power of Li+@C(60)( )and therefore on the acceleration of the reaction. The relationship between the HOMOdonor-LUMOacceptor energy difference and the DA reaction acceleration, and therefore the acceleration of light conversion (a rapid conversion implies a small gap), has been thoroughly examined. Moreover, a mechanistic study of the kinetics of the DA reaction of the fullerene involved in an organic photovoltaic cell has been carried out. In this section, a concerted synchronous mechanism with no effect of encapsulation on the synchronicity of the reaction was observed. Finally, it was revealed that Li+@C-60 reacted approximately 2466 times faster than C-60. Moreover, the experimental results were found in good agreement with the computer calculations.