Alternative Thieno[3,2‐b][1]benzothiophene Isoindigo Polymers for Solar Cell Applications

This work reports the synthesis, characterization, photophysical, and photovoltaic properties of five new thieno[3,2‐b][1]benzothiophene isoindigo (TBTI)‐containing low bandgap donor–acceptor conjugated polymers with a series of comonomers and different side chains. When TBTI is combined with differ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecular rapid communications. 2018-07, Vol.39 (14), p.e1700820-n/a
Main Authors: Neophytou, Marios, Bryant, Daniel, Lopatin, Sergei, Chen, Hu, Hallani, Rawad K., Cater, Lewis, McCulloch, Iain, Yue, Wan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Benzothiophene
Butyric acid
Chemical synthesis
conjugated polymers
EELS mapping
Electron energy
Electron energy loss spectroscopy
Energy loss
Heterojunctions
Morphology
Organic chemistry
Photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaics
Polymer blends
Polymers
Solar cells
Spectroscopy
thieno‐benzothiophene isoindigo
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Summary:This work reports the synthesis, characterization, photophysical, and photovoltaic properties of five new thieno[3,2‐b][1]benzothiophene isoindigo (TBTI)‐containing low bandgap donor–acceptor conjugated polymers with a series of comonomers and different side chains. When TBTI is combined with different electron‐rich moieties, even small structural variations can have significant impact on thin film morphology of the polymer:phenyl C70 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends. More importantly, high‐resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy is used to investigate the phase‐separated bulk heterojunction domains, which can be accurately and precisely resolved, enabling an enhanced correlation between polymer chemical structure, photovoltaic device performance, and morphology. Five alternative thieno‐benzothiophene isoindigo D–A polymers are designed, synthesized, and characterized, and their photophysical and photovoltaic properties are investigated. A novel composite electron energy loss spectroscopy imaging technique is used to determine the domains between polymers and phenyl C70 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), enabling an enhanced correlation between polymer chemical structure, photovoltaic device performance, and acquired morphology.
ISSN:1022-1336
1521-3927
DOI:10.1002/marc.201700820