Photo-Cross-Linkable Azide-Functionalized Polythiophene for Thermally Stable Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

We have synthesized photo-cross-linkable azide-functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene) to explore improvements in the thermal stability of bulk heterojunction solar cells. Exposing blends of photo-cross-linkable polythiophene and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester to ultraviolet light preferen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecules 2012-03, Vol.45 (5), p.2338-2347
Main Authors: Nam, Chang-Yong, Qin, Yang, Park, Young S, Hlaing, Htay, Lu, Xinhui, Ocko, Benjamin M, Black, Charles T, Grubbs, Robert B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Natural energy
Organic polymers
Photovoltaic conversion
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polymers with particular properties
Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts
Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells
Solar energy
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Summary:We have synthesized photo-cross-linkable azide-functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene) to explore improvements in the thermal stability of bulk heterojunction solar cells. Exposing blends of photo-cross-linkable polythiophene and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester to ultraviolet light preferentially cross-linked the polythiophene without degrading its optical or electrical properties. X-ray scattering measurements showed that cross-linking slightly compacted the polythiophene chain lamellar stacking while increasing the polymer crystal coherence length by 20%. Optimized solar cells having cross-linked active blend layers retained 65% of their initial photovoltaic power conversion efficiency after 40 h of thermal annealing at 110 °C, while devices using un-cross-linked commercial polythiophene underwent significant phase separation and retained less than 30% of their initial efficiency after annealing.
ISSN:0024-9297
1520-5835
DOI:10.1021/ma3001725