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Title: Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of 2,6-bis(2-thienyl) benzobisazole and 4,8-bis(thienyl)-benzo[1,2- B :4,5- B' ]dithiophene copolymers

Journal Article · · Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.27793· OSTI ID:1370304
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [1]
  1. Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa 50011
  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa 50011; Department of Physics, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516 Egypt
  3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa 50011

In an effort to design efficient low-cost polymers for use in organic photovoltaic cells the easily prepared donor–acceptor–donor triad of a either cis-benzobisoxazole, trans-benzobisoxazole or trans-benzobisthiazole flanked by two thiophene rings was combined with the electron-rich 4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)-thien-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene. The electrochemical, optical, morphological, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties of the resulting terpolymers were investigated. Although the polymers differed in the arrangement and/or nature of the chalcogens, they all had similar highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels (-5.2 to -5.3 eV) and optical band gaps (2.1–2.2 eV). However, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels ranged from -3.1 to -3.5 eV. When the polymers were used as electron donors in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices with PC71BM ([6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester) as the acceptor, the trans-benzobisoxazole polymer had the best performance with a power conversion efficiency of 2.8%.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Polymer-Based Materials for Harvesting Solar Energy (PHaSE)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
DOE Contract Number:
SC0001087
OSTI ID:
1370304
Journal Information:
Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 54, Issue 3; Related Information: PHaSE partners with University of Massachusetts, Amherst (lead) and Lowell; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Pennsylvania State University; Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute; University of Pittsburgh; ISSN 0887-624X
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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