Photocurrent enhancement from diketopyrrolopyrrole polymer solar cells through alkyl-chain branching point manipulation

Iain Meager*, Raja Shahid Ashraf, Sonya Mollinger, Bob C. Schroeder, Hugo Bronstein, Daniel Beatrup, Michelle S. Vezie, Thomas Kirchartz, Alberto Salleo, Jenny Nelson, Iain McCulloch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

265 Scopus citations

Abstract

Systematically moving the alkyl-chain branching position away from the polymer backbone afforded two new thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPPTT-T) polymers. When used as donor materials in polymer:fullerene solar cells, efficiencies exceeding 7% were achieved without the use of processing additives. The effect of the position of the alkyl-chain branching point on the thin-film morphology was investigated using X-ray scattering techniques and the effects on the photovoltaic and charge-transport properties were also studied. For both solar cell and transistor devices, moving the branching point further from the backbone was beneficial. This is the first time that this effect has been shown to improve solar cell performance. Strong evidence is presented for changes in microstructure across the series, which is most likely the cause for the photocurrent enhancement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11537-11540
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume135
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 7 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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