Isostructural, deeper highest occupied molecular orbital analogues of poly(3-hexylthiophene) for high-open circuit voltage organic solar cells

Hugo Bronstein*, Michael Hurhangee, Elisa Collado Fregoso, Daniel Beatrup, Ying W. Soon, Zhenggang Huang, Afshin Hadipour, Pabitra S. Tuladhar, Stephan Rossbauer, Eun Ho Sohn, Safa Shoaee, Stoichko D. Dimitrov, Jarvist M. Frost, Raja Shahid Ashraf, Thomas Kirchartz, Scott E. Watkins, Kigook Song, Thomas Anthopoulos, Jenny Nelson, Barry P. RandJames R. Durrant, Iain McCulloch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the synthesis and characterization of two novel thiazole-containing conjugated polymers (PTTTz and PTTz) that are isostructural to poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The novel materials demonstrate optical and morphological properties almost identical to those of P3HT but with HOMO and LUMO levels that are up to 0.45 eV deeper. An intramolecular planarizing nitrogen-sulfur nonbonding interaction is observed, and its magnitude and origin are discussed. Both materials demonstrate significantly greater open circuit voltages than P3HT in bulk heterojunction solar cells. PTTTz is shown to be an extremely versatile donor polymer that can be used with a wide variety of fullerene acceptors with device efficiencies of up to 4.5%. It is anticipated that this material could be used as a high-open circuit voltage alternative to P3HT in organic solar cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4239-4249
Number of pages11
JournalChemistry of Materials
Volume25
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 12 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • OPV
  • P3HT
  • conjugated polymer
  • solar cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Chemistry

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