Synthesis and characterization of two new benzothiadiazole- and fused bithiophene based low band-gap D-A copolymers: Application as donor bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells

Abstract

Two new narrow bandgap D-A conjugated copolymers P1 and P2 containing different fused thiophene donor unit and same benzothiadiazole acceptor unit were synthesized by Stille cross-coupling polymerization, and characterized by H-1 NMR, elemental analysis and GPC, TGA, DSC. Cyclic voltammetry measurement showed that the HOMO energy level both copolymers is deep lying (-5.10 and -5.35 eV for P1 and P2, respectively) which show that copolymers has good stability in the air and assured a higher open circuit voltage when it photovoltaic application. These copolymer were used as donor along with PC71BM and the BHJ polymer solar cells based on P1:PC71BM and P2:PC71BM processed with chloroform (CF) solvent showed over all PCE of 4.54% and 4.36%, respectively. Additionally, the PCE was improved up to 5.62% and 5.24% for P1:PC71BM and P2:PC71BM active layer processed with DIO (4 v%)/CF solvent. The enhancement in the PCE has been attributed to improved nanoscale morphology and crystalline nature of active layer as well as charge transport in the device with the addition of DIO, due to the higher boiling point of DIO causing slow evaporation rate during the film formation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.