title: Synthesis of a novel low-bandgap polymer based on a ladder-type Heptacyclic arene consisting of outer thieno[3,2-b]thiophene units for efficient photovoltaic application.
abstract: A novel conjugated polymer PIDTT-quinoxaline (Qx) based on the coplanar thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-phenylene-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene structure is synthesized and evaluated as an electron-donor material for bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells (BHJ PSCs). The absorption spectra, electrochemical, charge transport, and film morphology properties as well as theoretical modeling of PIDTT-Qx are investigated to understand its intrinsic structure-property relationship. As expected, this polymer with an extended π-conjugated backbone exhibits a narrow-bandgap and board absorption spectrum for enhanced light harvesting. BHJ PSCs (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PC71 BM/interlayer/Al) afford a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.05% with an open-circuit voltage of 0.84 V, a short-circuit current density of 11.26 mA cm(-2) , and a fill factor of 53.4%. These results demonstrate the potential of PIDTT-Qx as an efficient electron-donor material for BHJ PSCs.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ng Siu
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Choon
authors.forename: Junwu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Beng S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011789:Quantum Theory; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011810:Quinoxalines; D013876:Thiophenes; D017971:Tin Compounds; C533756:poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate); C109984:indium tin oxide