Premium
Optimizing Light‐Harvesting Polymers via Side Chain Engineering
Author(s) -
Liu Peng,
Dong Sheng,
Liu Feng,
Hu Xiaowen,
Liu Liqian,
Jin Yaocheng,
Liu Shengjian,
Gong Xiong,
Russell Thomas P.,
Huang Fei,
Cao Yong
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201501878
Subject(s) - side chain , materials science , stacking , polymer , lamellar structure , conjugated system , crystallinity , polymer solar cell , active layer , absorption (acoustics) , acceptor , chemical engineering , layer (electronics) , polymer chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , thin film transistor , chemistry , physics , engineering , condensed matter physics
A series of conjugated polymers using naphtho[1,2‐c:5,6‐c]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole and benzodithiophene alternating backbone is synthesized to investigate the effect of side chain substitution on conjugated donor–acceptor polymer on electronic, morphological, and photovoltaic properties. It is found that light absorption and frontier energy levels of the resultant polymers are strongly affected by the side chains. The thin film morphology, crystal structure, crystallinity, and orientation also depend on the side chains; the side chain type affects more in the π–π stacking direction, while the side chain density plays a significant role in the lamellar packing direction. The thickness of the active layer also influences the performance of the solar cells with some materials showing enhanced performance with thicker active layers. The best solar cell device in this study has power conversion efficiencies of 8.14%, among the highest in materials of similar structure.