Synthesis of seleno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-based polymers for polymer solar cells

• Published in: Synthetic metals Vol. 162; no. 17-18; pp. 1707 - 1712
• Main Authors: Ikai, Tomoyuki, Azam, A.K.M. Fakhrul, Kuzuba, Mitsuhiro, Kuwabara, Takayuki, Maeda, Katsuhiro, Takahashi, Kohshin, Kanoh, Shigeyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bulk heterojunction; Donor–acceptor; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Low bandgap; Natural energy; Organic polymers; Photovoltaic conversion; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer solar cell; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Selenophene; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; π-Conjugated copolymer; Bulk heterojunction; Low bandgap; Polymer solar cell; π-Conjugated copolymer; Donor–acceptor; Selenophene; Organic solar cells; Fill factor; Donor-acceptor; Imide; Optical properties; Aromatic copolymer; Alternating copolymer; Thiophene derivative copolymer; Optical absorption; Stille coupling; Short circuit currents; Pyrrole derivative copolymer; Solution polycondensation; Experimental study; Selenium nitrogen heterocycle; Open circuit voltage; Electronic structure; Conjugated copolymer; Selenium containing polymer; Preparation
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2012.07.003

[Display omitted] ► Novel seleno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-based π-conjugated polymers PSePDBDT1 and PSePDBDT2 were synthesized. ► The thermal, optical, and photovoltaic properties of PSePDBDT2 were evaluated. ► PSePDBDT2 exhibited a higher thermal stability than the corresponding sulfur-based PTPDBDT2. ► The bandgap of PSePDBDT2 was slightly narrower than that of PTPDBDT2. ► The power conversion efficiency of the devises based on PSePDBDT2 was 0.28%. Novel π-conjugated polymers PSePDBDT1 and PSePDBDT2 containing seleno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione and benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene units were synthesized, and their thermal, optical and photovoltaic properties were compared with those of the corresponding thiophene-based polymer, PTPDBDT2, containing sulfur instead of selenium. PSePDBDT2 exhibited higher thermal stability and a narrower bandgap than PTPDBDT2. Using PSePDBDT2 or PTPDBDT2 as an electron donor and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as an electron acceptor, inverted-type bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices with the configuration ITO/TiOx/PSePDBDT2 or PTPDBDT2:PC61BM (1:2, w/w)/PEDOT:PSS/Au (ITO=indium tin oxide, TiOx=titanium oxide, PEDOT:PSS=poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid)) were fabricated. The preliminary power conversion efficiencies of the devices containing PSePDBDT2 and PTPDBDT2 were 0.28% and 1.54%, respectively, under simulated AM1.5 solar irradiation (77.8mW/cm2).