The Influence of the Side Chain Structure on the Photostability of Low Band Gap Polymers

Side chains play an important role in the photo-oxidation process of low band gap (LBG) polymers. For example, it has been shown that their photostability can be increased by the introduction of aromatic-oxy-alkyl links. We studied the photostability of prototypical LBG polymers with alkyl and oxyal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2023-05, Vol.28 (9), p.3858
Main Authors: Bölke, Sven, Keller, Tina, Trilling, Florian, Forster, Michael, Scherf, Ullrich, Chassé, Thomas, Peisert, Heiko
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectroscopy
Chain branching
Chains (polymeric)
FTIR
Infrared reflection
Infrared spectroscopy
Investigations
Ionization
Ionization potentials
Irradiation
Kinetics
low band gap polymers
organic solar cells
Oxidation
Oxidation process
Parameter modification
photodegradation
Photooxidation
PMIRRAS
Polarization modulation
Polymer films
Polymers
Spectrum analysis
Thin films
UV/vis
White light
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Summary:Side chains play an important role in the photo-oxidation process of low band gap (LBG) polymers. For example, it has been shown that their photostability can be increased by the introduction of aromatic-oxy-alkyl links. We studied the photostability of prototypical LBG polymers with alkyl and oxyalkyl side chains during irradiation with white light (AM 1.5 conditions) in dry air using UV/vis and IR spectroscopy. Though its degradation kinetics were distinctly affected by the presence or absence of oxygen in the structure of the side chains, in particular cases, the stability was more affected by the presence of linear or branched side chains. Moreover, we showed that the exact position of the alkyl/oxyalkyl side chain at the polymer backbone could be crucial. Although minor effects of chemical modifications on the electronic parameters (ionization potential and gap) were observed, the molecular orientation, determined by polarization modulation-infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PMIRRAS), could be affected. The aggregation and crystallinity of these polymers may distinctly affect their stability.
ISSN:1420-3049
1420-3049
DOI:10.3390/molecules28093858