Side-chain engineering of isoindigo-containing conjugated polymers using polystyrene for high-performance bulk heterojunction solar cells

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lei Fang - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Yan Zhou - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Yu Xing Yao - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Ying Diao - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Wen Ya Lee - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Anthony L. Appleton - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Ranulfo Allen - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Julia Reinspach - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Stefan C.B. Mannsfeld - , Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (Author)
  • Zhenan Bao - , Stanford University (Author)

Abstract

Developing organic photovoltaic systems that possess high efficiency, high reproducibility, and low cost remains a topic of keen investigation. From a molecular design perspective, developing a "multicomponent" copolymerization synthetic approach could potentially afford macromolecular materials encompassing all of the aforementioned desired parameters. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a series of poly(isoindigo-dithiophene)-based conjugated polymers with varying amounts of low molecular weight polystyrene (PS) side chains (Mn = 1300 g/mol) via random copolymerization. We observed better solubility with polymers containing the PS side chains (when compared to their non-PS-side-chain counterparts), hence leading to better batch-to-batch reproducibility in terms of molecular weights. Furthermore, the PS-side-chain-decorated copolymers also demonstrated better thin film processability, without affecting the electronic and optical properties, when the molar percentage of the PS-containing repeating units were ≤10%. Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices fabricated with these PS-containing copolymers demonstrated significantly improved performances [maximum power conversion efficiencies (PCE) > 7% and open circuit voltages (VOC) ≥ 0.95 V], compared to the highest reported performance (PCE = 6.3% and VOC = 0.70) based on similar isoindigo-containing polymers. Taken together, the synthesis, processing, and device performances of PS-containing copolymers represent a new approach in molecular engineering to achieve a balance between the optical/electronic properties and solubility/processability of reproducible polymeric systems.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4874-4880
Number of pages7
JournalChemistry of materials
Volume25
Issue number24
Publication statusPublished - 23 Dec 2013
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • bulk heterojunction, conjugated polymers, isoindigo, organic electronics, polystyrene, side-chain engineering, solar cells, solution process, thin films