Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells
Three two-dimensional donor–acceptor conjugated copolymers consisting of a benzo[1,2-b:4,5-<i>b</i>′]dithiophene derivative and thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene with a conjugated side chain were designed and synthesized for use in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) or nonfullerene polyme...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/12/2964 |
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| author | Ying-Chieh Chao Jhe-Han Chen Yi-Jie Chiou Po-lin Kao Jhao-Lin Wu Chin-Ti Chen Li-Hsin Chan Ru-Jong Jeng |
| author_facet | Ying-Chieh Chao Jhe-Han Chen Yi-Jie Chiou Po-lin Kao Jhao-Lin Wu Chin-Ti Chen Li-Hsin Chan Ru-Jong Jeng |
| author_sort | Ying-Chieh Chao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Three two-dimensional donor–acceptor conjugated copolymers consisting of a benzo[1,2-b:4,5-<i>b</i>′]dithiophene derivative and thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene with a conjugated side chain were designed and synthesized for use in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) or nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs). Through attaching various acceptor end groups to the conjugated side chain on the thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene moiety, the electronic, photophysical, and morphological properties of these copolymers were significantly affected. It was found that the intermolecular charge transfer interactions were enhanced with the increase in the acceptor strength on the thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene moiety. Moreover, a better microphase separation was obtained in the copolymer: PC<sub>71</sub>BM or ITIC blend films when a strong acceptor end group on the thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene moiety was used. As a result, BHJ PSCs based on copolymer:PC<sub>71</sub>BM blend films as active layers exhibited power conversion efficiencies from 2.82% to 4.41%, while those of nonfullerene copolymer:ITIC-based inverted PSCs ranged from 6.09% to 7.25%. These results indicate the side-chain engineering on the end groups of thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene unit through a vinyl bridge linkage is an effective way to adjust the photophysical properties of polymers and morphology of blend films, and also have a significant influence on devices performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:08:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1360324762e54e1bb6adfa237c8c32be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:08:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-1360324762e54e1bb6adfa237c8c32be2023-11-21T00:25:44ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602020-12-011212296410.3390/polym12122964Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar CellsYing-Chieh Chao0Jhe-Han Chen1Yi-Jie Chiou2Po-lin Kao3Jhao-Lin Wu4Chin-Ti Chen5Li-Hsin Chan6Ru-Jong Jeng7Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanDepartment of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 54561, TaiwanDepartment of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 54561, TaiwanDepartment of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 54561, TaiwanInstitute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, TaiwanInstitute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, TaiwanDepartment of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 54561, TaiwanInstitute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanThree two-dimensional donor–acceptor conjugated copolymers consisting of a benzo[1,2-b:4,5-<i>b</i>′]dithiophene derivative and thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene with a conjugated side chain were designed and synthesized for use in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) or nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs). Through attaching various acceptor end groups to the conjugated side chain on the thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene moiety, the electronic, photophysical, and morphological properties of these copolymers were significantly affected. It was found that the intermolecular charge transfer interactions were enhanced with the increase in the acceptor strength on the thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene moiety. Moreover, a better microphase separation was obtained in the copolymer: PC<sub>71</sub>BM or ITIC blend films when a strong acceptor end group on the thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene moiety was used. As a result, BHJ PSCs based on copolymer:PC<sub>71</sub>BM blend films as active layers exhibited power conversion efficiencies from 2.82% to 4.41%, while those of nonfullerene copolymer:ITIC-based inverted PSCs ranged from 6.09% to 7.25%. These results indicate the side-chain engineering on the end groups of thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>]thiophene unit through a vinyl bridge linkage is an effective way to adjust the photophysical properties of polymers and morphology of blend films, and also have a significant influence on devices performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/12/2964two-dimensional conjugated copolymerbenzodithiophenethienothiopheneacceptor end groups |
| spellingShingle | Ying-Chieh Chao Jhe-Han Chen Yi-Jie Chiou Po-lin Kao Jhao-Lin Wu Chin-Ti Chen Li-Hsin Chan Ru-Jong Jeng Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells Polymers two-dimensional conjugated copolymer benzodithiophene thienothiophene acceptor end groups |
| title | Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells |
| title_full | Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells |
| title_short | Design of Thienothiophene-Based Copolymers with Various Side Chain-End Groups for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells |
| title_sort | design of thienothiophene based copolymers with various side chain end groups for efficient polymer solar cells |
| topic | two-dimensional conjugated copolymer benzodithiophene thienothiophene acceptor end groups |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/12/2964 |
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