Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole containing polymers for inverted solar cells devices with high short circuit currents

Hugo Bronstein*, Elisa Collado-Fregoso, Afshin Hadipour, Ying W. Soon, Zhenggang Huang, Stoichko D. Dimitrov, Raja Shahid Ashraf, Barry P. Rand, Scott E. Watkins, Pabitra S. Tuladhar, Iain Meager, James R. Durrant, Iain McCulloch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization four diketopyrrolopyrrole containing conjugated polymers for use in organic photovoltaics is presented. Excellent energy level control is demonstrated through heteroatomic substitution whilst maintaining similar solid state properties as shown by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. Inverted solar cells were fabricated with the best devices having short circuit currents exceeding 16 mA cm-2 and efficiencies of over 5% irrespective of whether [6,6]-phenyl-C 61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) or [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) is used. Transient absorption spectroscopy on the bulk heterojunction blends shows efficient charge photo-generation, with the variations in short circuit current correlated to the energetic offset between polymer and fullerene. Four diketopyrrolopyrrole containing polymers are synthesized and evaluated for use in organic solar cells. Heteroatomic substitution allows precise control over the polymer energy levels with minimal disruption to the solid state properties. Variations in the short circuit current are linked to the energetic offset between polymer and fullerene.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5647-5654
Number of pages8
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume23
Issue number45
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 5 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • conjugated polymers
  • inverted solar cells
  • thienothiophene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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