Synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic properties of dithienylbenzobisazole‐dithienylsilole copolymers

Three conjugated polymers comprised of dioctyl‐dithieno‐[2,3‐b:2',3'‐d]silole and a donor‐acceptor‐donor triad of either cis‐benzbisoxazole, trans‐benzobisoxazole or trans‐benzobisthiazole were synthesized via the Stille cross‐coupling reaction. The impact of varying the heteroatoms and/or...

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Published in:Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2015-07, Vol.53 (13), p.1533-1540
Main Authors: Bhuwalka, Achala, Ewan, Monique D, Mike, Jared F, Elshobaki, Moneim, Kobilka, Brandon, Chaudhary, Sumit, Jeffries‐EL, Malika
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
composite polymers
conjugated polymers
Copolymers
Donor materials
Energy conversion efficiency
heteroatom containing polymer
Molecular orbitals
Optical properties
Photovoltaic cells
Solar cells
Synthesis
ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy
Voltammetry
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Summary:Three conjugated polymers comprised of dioctyl‐dithieno‐[2,3‐b:2',3'‐d]silole and a donor‐acceptor‐donor triad of either cis‐benzbisoxazole, trans‐benzobisoxazole or trans‐benzobisthiazole were synthesized via the Stille cross‐coupling reaction. The impact of varying the heteroatoms and/or the location within the benzobisazole moiety on the optical and electronic properties of the resulting polymers was evaluated via cyclic voltammetry and UV‐Visible spectroscopy. All of the polymers have similar optical band‐gaps of ∼1.9 eV and highest occupied molecular orbital levels of −5.2 eV. However, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) ranged from −3.0 to −3.2 eV. Interestingly, when the polymers were used as donor materials in bulk‐heterojunction photovoltaic cells with PC₇₁BM as the electron‐acceptor, the benzobisoxazole‐based polymers gave slightly better results than the benzobisthiazole‐containing polymers with power conversion efficiencies up to 3.5%. These results indicate that benzobisoxazoles are promising materials for use in OPVs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1533–1540
ISSN:0887-624X
1099-0518
DOI:10.1002/pola.27603