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Phosphonium‐based polythiophene conjugated polyelectrolytes with different surfactant counterions: thermal properties, self‐assembly and photovoltaic performances
Author(s) -
Chevrier Michèle,
Kesters Jurgen,
Houston Judith E,
Van den Brande Niko,
Chambon Sylvain,
Richeter Sébastien,
Van Mele Bruno,
Arnold Thomas,
Mehdi Ahmad,
Lazzaroni Roberto,
Dubois Philippe,
Evans Rachel C,
Maes Wouter,
Clément Sébastien
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.6088
Subject(s) - counterion , polythiophene , materials science , chemical engineering , phosphonium , nanoporous , polyelectrolyte , thermal stability , polymer , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , conductive polymer , ion , composite material , engineering
Phosphonium‐based polythiophene conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with three different counterions (dodecylsulfate, octylsulfate and perfluorooctane sulfonate) are synthesized to determine how the nature of the counterion affects the thermal properties, the self‐assembly in thin films and the performance as the cathode interfacial layer in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The counterion has a significant effect on the thermal properties of the CPEs, affecting both their glass transition and crystalline behaviour. Grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering studies also indicate that changing the nature of the counterion influences the microstructural organization in thin films (face‐on versus edge‐on orientation). The affinity of the CPEs with the underlying photoactive layer in PSCs is highly correlated with the counterion species. Finally, in addition to an increase of the power conversion efficiency of ca 15% when using these CPEs as cathode interfacial layers in PSCs, a higher device stability is noted, compared to a reference device with a calcium interlayer. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry