Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells
A new side-chain C<sub>60</sub>-fullerene functionalized thiophene copolymer bearing tributylphosphine-substituted hexylic lateral groups was successfully synthesized by means of a fast and effective post-polymerization reaction on a regioregular ω-alkylbrominated polymeric precursor. Th...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/10/1640 |
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| author | Massimiliano Lanzi Debora Quadretti Martina Marinelli Yasamin Ziai Elisabetta Salatelli Filippo Pierini |
| author_facet | Massimiliano Lanzi Debora Quadretti Martina Marinelli Yasamin Ziai Elisabetta Salatelli Filippo Pierini |
| author_sort | Massimiliano Lanzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A new side-chain C<sub>60</sub>-fullerene functionalized thiophene copolymer bearing tributylphosphine-substituted hexylic lateral groups was successfully synthesized by means of a fast and effective post-polymerization reaction on a regioregular ω-alkylbrominated polymeric precursor. The growth of the polymeric intermediate was followed by NMR spectrometry in order to determine the most convenient reaction time. The obtained copolymer was soluble in water and polar solvents and was used as a photoactive layer in single-material organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells. The copolymer photovoltaic efficiency was compared with that of an OPV cell containing a water-soluble polythiophenic homopolymer, functionalized with the same tributylphosphine-substituted hexylic side chains, in a blend with a water-soluble C<sub>60</sub>-fullerene derivative. The use of a water-soluble double-cable copolymer made it possible to enhance the control on the nanomorphology of the active blend, thus reducing phase-segregation phenomena, as well as the macroscale separation between the electron acceptor and donor components. Indeed, the power conversion efficiency of OPV cells based on a single material was higher than that obtained with the classical architecture, involving the presence of two distinct ED and EA materials (PCE: 3.11% vs. 2.29%, respectively). Moreover, the synthetic procedure adopted to obtain single material-based cells is more straightforward and easier than that used for the preparation of the homopolymer-based BHJ solar cell, thus making it possible to completely avoid the long synthetic pathway which is required to prepare water-soluble fullerene derivatives. |
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| id | doaj.art-6685d5650fa64a86b600dc9bf39abc4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:17:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-6685d5650fa64a86b600dc9bf39abc4a2023-11-21T20:19:57ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-05-011310164010.3390/polym13101640Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar CellsMassimiliano Lanzi0Debora Quadretti1Martina Marinelli2Yasamin Ziai3Elisabetta Salatelli4Filippo Pierini5Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biosystem and Soft Matter, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, IPPT-PAN, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Pawinskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biosystem and Soft Matter, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, IPPT-PAN, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Pawinskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, PolandA new side-chain C<sub>60</sub>-fullerene functionalized thiophene copolymer bearing tributylphosphine-substituted hexylic lateral groups was successfully synthesized by means of a fast and effective post-polymerization reaction on a regioregular ω-alkylbrominated polymeric precursor. The growth of the polymeric intermediate was followed by NMR spectrometry in order to determine the most convenient reaction time. The obtained copolymer was soluble in water and polar solvents and was used as a photoactive layer in single-material organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells. The copolymer photovoltaic efficiency was compared with that of an OPV cell containing a water-soluble polythiophenic homopolymer, functionalized with the same tributylphosphine-substituted hexylic side chains, in a blend with a water-soluble C<sub>60</sub>-fullerene derivative. The use of a water-soluble double-cable copolymer made it possible to enhance the control on the nanomorphology of the active blend, thus reducing phase-segregation phenomena, as well as the macroscale separation between the electron acceptor and donor components. Indeed, the power conversion efficiency of OPV cells based on a single material was higher than that obtained with the classical architecture, involving the presence of two distinct ED and EA materials (PCE: 3.11% vs. 2.29%, respectively). Moreover, the synthetic procedure adopted to obtain single material-based cells is more straightforward and easier than that used for the preparation of the homopolymer-based BHJ solar cell, thus making it possible to completely avoid the long synthetic pathway which is required to prepare water-soluble fullerene derivatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/10/1640water-soluble polymersdouble-cable copolymerspolythiophenesGRIM polymerizationtributylphosphinewater-soluble fullerenes |
| spellingShingle | Massimiliano Lanzi Debora Quadretti Martina Marinelli Yasamin Ziai Elisabetta Salatelli Filippo Pierini Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells Polymers water-soluble polymers double-cable copolymers polythiophenes GRIM polymerization tributylphosphine water-soluble fullerenes |
| title | Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells |
| title_full | Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells |
| title_short | Influence of the Active Layer Structure on the Photovoltaic Performance of Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Based Solar Cells |
| title_sort | influence of the active layer structure on the photovoltaic performance of water soluble polythiophene based solar cells |
| topic | water-soluble polymers double-cable copolymers polythiophenes GRIM polymerization tributylphosphine water-soluble fullerenes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/10/1640 |
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