Comparison of selenophene and thienothiophene incorporation into pentacyclic lactam-based conjugated polymers for organic solar cells
Journal article, 2015

In this work, we compare the effect of incorporating selenophene versus thienothiophene spacers into pentacyclic lactam-based conjugated polymers for organic solar cells. The two cyclic lactam-based copolymers were obtained via a new synthetic method for the lactam moiety. Selenophene incorporation results in a broader and red-shifted optical absorption while retaining a deep highest occupied molecular orbital level, whereas thienothienophene incorporation results in a blue-shifted optical absorption. Additionally, grazing-incidence wide angle X-ray scattering data indicates edge- and face-on solid state order for the selenophene-based polymer as compared to the thienothiophene-based polymer, which orders predominantly edge-on with respect to the substrate. In polymer : PC71BM bulk heterojunction solar cells both materials show a similar open-circuit voltage of similar to 0.80-0.84 V, however the selenophene-based polymer displays a higher fill factor of similar to 0.70 vs. similar to 0.65. This is due to the partial face-on backbone orientation of the selenophene-based polymer, leading to a higher hole mobility, as confirmed by single-carrier diode measurements, and a concomitantly higher fill factor. Combined with improved spectral coverage of the selenophene-based polymer, as confirmed by quantum efficiency experiments, it offers a larger short-circuit current density of similar to 12 mA cm(-2). Despite the relatively low molecular weight of both materials, a very robust power conversion efficiency similar to 7% is achieved for the selenophene-based polymer, while the thienothiophene-based polymer demonstrates only a moderate maximum PCE of similar to 5.5%. Hence, the favorable effects of selenophene incorporation on the photovoltaic performance of pentacyclic lactam-based conjugated polymers are clearly demonstrated.

Author

Renee Kroon

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

A. Melianas

Linköping University

Wenliu Zhuang

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

J. Bergqvist

Linköping University

Amaia Diaz de Zerio Mendaza

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Timothy Steckler

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

L. Y. Yu

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

S. J. Bradley

University of South Australia

C. Musumeci

Linköping University

Desta Antenehe Gedefaw

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

T. Nann

University of South Australia

A. Amassian

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Christian Müller

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Olle Inganäs

Linköping University

Mats Andersson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Polymer Chemistry

1759-9954 (ISSN) 1759-9962 (eISSN)

Vol. 6 42 7402-7409

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

DOI

10.1039/c5py01245g

More information

Latest update

4/12/2018