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Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated polymers as additives to optimize morphology for polymer solar cells

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Novel random copolymers for optimizing the morphology of the active layer for high performance organic photovoltaic devices have been demonstrated. Three ternary random copolymers PTBDTDPPSiCN(3/7), PTBDTDPPSiCN(5/5), PTBDTDPPSiCN(7/3) were prepared by polymerization of electron-donating thienyl-substituted benzodithiophene (TBDT) with 2,5-bis[8-(1,1,3,3,5,5,5-heptamethyltrisiloxane-3-yl)octly]-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione (DPPSi) and 2,5-dio[5-(5-cyano-5,5-dimethyl-pentyl)]-3,6-dithiophen-2-yl-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione (DPPCN) of different ratios. The DPPCN block can well-tune the light absorption and molecular packing, while the DPPSi block is in favor of enhancing the charge mobility. And the formation of organic Si-O-Si networks is beneficial to stabilize the morphology of the active layer. These new copolymers have narrow bandgaps and broaden visible light absorption from 500 nm to 1000 nm. Careful balance of the contents of the trimethoxysilyl group and the cyano group can well-tune the surface energy and morphology of the copolymers. Incorporation of these novel copolymers as additives into the blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) is found to effectively broaden the light absorption, improve the compatibility and morphology of the active layer. As a result, some devices with certain ratios of these copolymers as additives achieve the enhanced efficiency compared with the device based on pristine P3HT:PC61BM.

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Correspondence to Lie Chen  (谌烈).

Additional information

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51263016 and 51473075), and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (Nos. 20143ACB20001 and 20133BCB23001).

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Liao, Xf., Wang, J., Chen, Sy. et al. Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated polymers as additives to optimize morphology for polymer solar cells. Chin J Polym Sci 34, 491–504 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-016-1761-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-016-1761-0

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