Synthesis and characterizations of benzotriazole based donor–acceptor copolymers for organic photovoltaic applications

• Published in: Synthetic metals Vol. 162; no. 11-12; pp. 1037 - 1045
• Main Authors: Murugesan, Vajjiravel, de Bettignies, Rémi, Mercier, Régis, Guillerez, Stéphane, Perrin, Lara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Benzotriazole; Carbazoles; Conjugated polymers; Copolymerization; Copolymers; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; Organic polymers; Organic solar cells; Palladium; Photophysics; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Synthesis; Conjugated polymers; Copolymerization; Photophysics; Organic solar cells; Benzotriazole; Fullerene compounds; Silicon heterocycle; Silicon copolymer; Fill factor; Thermal stability; Optical properties; Nitrogen heterocycle copolymer; Aromatic copolymer; Alternating copolymer; Optical absorption; Short circuit currents; Solution polycondensation; Carbazole derivative copolymer; Experimental study; Open circuit voltage; Suzuki coupling; Electrochemical properties; Conjugated copolymer; Preparation; Fluorene derivative copolymer
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2012.04.006

[Display omitted] ► Donor–acceptor alternated conjugated copolymers based on benzotriazole. ► Three polymers: fluorene, carbazole and silyl fluorene as electron-donating units. ► Synthesis via the palladium catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling polymerization. ► Absorption and emission spectroscopies, electrochemistry, photovoltaic devices. ► Relationship between the structure and physical properties of the three polymers. Donor–acceptor alternated conjugated copolymers based on benzotriazole acceptor units and electron-donating units such as fluorene, carbazole and silyl fluorene, were synthesized through palladium catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling polymerization. NMR and elemental analyses were achieved to confirm the structure of each copolymer. Their thermal, photophysical and electrochemical properties are also reported. The photovoltaic characteristics of these polymers determined from bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic cells are discussed.