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Title: Systematic Fluorination of P3HT: Synthesis of P(3HT-co-3H4FT)s by Direct Arylation Polymerization, Characterization, and Device Performance in OPVs

Journal Article · · Macromolecules
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

We present a strategy for tuning physical properties of P3HT-based copolymers by incorporating a fluorinated thiophene repeat unit. The synthesis and characterization of a series of fluorinated polythiophene P(3HT-co-3H4FT) materials are described, where the percentage of fluorinated repeat units in the polymer backbone is systematically varied from 0 to 100%. These P(3HT-co-3H4FT)s (P0, P25, P50, P75, and P100) were synthesized via direct arylation polymerization (DArP) methods. By varying the feed ratio of the two monomers, the percent of fluorinated repeat units (3H4FT) could be precisely controlled. As fluorination is increased, there is a strong effect on the electronic properties of the polymers, evidenced by a 0.4 eV drop in the EHOMO level for P100 when compared to P0. GIWAXS and TEM were used to determine the crystallinity and morphology. TEM analysis of thin film polymer/PCBM bulk-heterojunction blends indicates that increased fluorination does not result in stronger phase separation. As a result, organic photovoltaic devices were fabricated to evaluate changes in device performance as a result of fluorination.

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); National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001087; N00014-15-1-2244; GRFP-1451512
OSTI ID:
1370306
Journal Information:
Macromolecules, Vol. 49, Issue 8; 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 0024-9297
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 29 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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