Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis and photovoltaic performance of a fluorene-bithiophene copolymer

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymer Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present the synthesis of a copolymer structure, poly(9,9′-n-di-hexyl-2,7-fluorene-alt-2,5-bithiophene), referred to herein as LaPPS43, and its physico-chemical characterization. Thin films of this polymer mixed with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were used as the active layer in photovoltaic devices using the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/LaPPS43:PCBM/Ca/Al bulk heterojunction structure. The devices of different active layer thicknesses were electrically studied using J-V curves and the Photo-Celiv technique. The obtained results show that LaPPS43 combined with PCBM is a promising system for photovoltaic devices. Device performance is discussed in terms of the mean drift distance x for charge carriers. Photophysical data showed that the excitonic species are all localized in the aggregated forms. The mechanism of exciton formation and dissociation is also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Shirota Y (2000) J Mat Chem 10:1–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Laquai F, Park YS, Kim JJ, Basche T (2009) Macrom Rap Comm 14:1203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bianchi RF, Onmori RK, Faria RM (2005) J Polym Sci: Part B: Polym Phys 43:74–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Brabec CJ, Cravino A, Meissner D, Sariciftci NS, Fromherz T, Rispens MT, Sanchez L, Hummelen JC (2001) Adv Funct Mater 11:374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Piyakulawat P, Keawprajak A, Jiramitmongkon K, Hanusch M, Wlosnewski J, Asawapirom U (2011) Solar Energy Mater Solar Cells 95:2167–2172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Homa B, Andersson M, Inganäs O (2009) Org Electron 10:501–505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhao B, Liu D, Peng L, Li H, Shen P, Xiang N, Liu Y, Tan S (2009) Eur Polym J 45:2079–2086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Du C, Li C, Li W, Chen X, Bo Z, Veit C, Ma Z, Wuerfel U, Zhu H, Hu W, Zhang F (2011) Macromolecules 44:7617–7624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tang W, Chellappan V, Liu M, Chen Z-K, Ke L (2009) Appl Mater Interfaces 1:1467–1473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhao D, Tang W, Ke L, Tan ST, Sun XW (2010) Appl Mater Interfaces 2:829–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schulz GL, Chen X, Holdcroft S (2009) Appl Phys Lett 94:023302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Macedo AG, Marchiori CFN, Grova IR, Akcelrud L, Koehler M, Roman LS (2011) Appl Phys Lett 98:253501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Xia C, Advincula RC (2001) Macromolecules 34:5854–5859

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zeng L, Yan F, Wei SK-H, Culligan SW, Chen SH (2009) Adv Funct Mater 19:1978–1986

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Juska G, Arlauskas K, Viliunas M, Geneviczius K (2000) Phys Rev B 62:235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Tang W, Ke L, Tan L, Lin T, Kietzke T, Chen Z-K (2007) Macromolecules 40:6164–6171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Scherf U, List EJW (2002) Adv Mater 14:477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Giro R, Davila LYA, Machado, Caldas MJ, Akcelrud L (2008) Int J Quantum Chem 109:885–892

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tozoni JR, Guimarães FEG, Atvars TDZ, Nowacki B, Akcelrud L, Bonagamba TJ (2009) Eur Polym J 45:2467–2477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rodrigues PC, Grova I, Coutinho DJ, Domingues RA, Oh HS, Seo J, Faria RM, Atvars TDZ, Prasad PN, Akcelrud L (2012) J Polym Res 19:9828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Klaerner G, Miller RD (1998) Macromolecules 31:2007–2009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Häusermann R, Knapp E, Moos M, Reinke NA, Flatz T, Ruhstaller B (2009) J Appl Phys 106:104507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hwang I, McNeill CR, Greenham NC (2009) J Appl Phys 106:094506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mozer AJ, Sariciftci N, Lutsen L, Vanderzande D, Osterbacka R, Westerling M, Juska G (2005) Appl Phys Lett 86:112104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Faria GC, Faria RM, de Azevedo ER, Seggern HV (2011) J Phys Chem C 115:25479–25483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. McNeilla CR, Greenham NC (2008) Appl Phys Lett 93:203310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pensack RD, Banyas KM, Asbury JB (2010) J Phys Chem C 114:5344–5350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to CNPQ, INEO, PIPE, and UFPR for their financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paulo Scarpa Polymer Laboratory (LaPPS), Federal University of Parana, CP 19081, CEP 81531-990, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Isabel R. Grova & Leni Akcelrud

  2. Integrated Graduate Program in Engineering (PIPE), Federal University of Parana, CP 19011, CEP 81531-990, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Isabel R. Grova & Leni Akcelrud

  3. Group of Polymers “Bernhard Gross” – Physics Institute of São Carlos, Institute of Physics, São Paulo University (USP), P.O. Box 369, CEP 13084-971, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Douglas J. Coutinho & Roberto M. Faria

Authors
  1. Isabel R. Grova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Douglas J. Coutinho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Roberto M. Faria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Leni Akcelrud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leni Akcelrud.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grova, I.R., Coutinho, D.J., Faria, R.M. et al. Synthesis and photovoltaic performance of a fluorene-bithiophene copolymer. J Polym Res 20, 119 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0119-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0119-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation