New conjugated copolymers based on benzo[1,2‐b; 3,4‐b′]dithiophene and derivatives of benzo[g]quinoxaline for bulk heterojunction solar cells

A series of new low‐band gap copolymers based on dioctyloxybenzo[1,2‐b;3,4‐b′] dithiophene and bis(2‐thienyl)‐2,3‐diphenylbenzo[g]quinoxaline monomers have been synthesized via a Stille reaction. The effect of different functional groups attached to bis(2‐thienyl)‐2,3‐diphenylbenzo[g]quinoxaline was investigated and compared with their optical, electrochemical, hole mobility, and photovoltaic properties. Polymer solar cell (PSC) devices of the copolymers were fabricated with a configuration of ITO/ PEDOT: PSS/copolymers: PCBM (1:4 wt ratio)/Ca/Al. The best performance of the PSC device was obtained by using PbttpmobQ as the active layer. A power conversion efficiency of 1.42% with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.8 V, a short‐circuit current (JSC) of 5.73 mA cm⁻², and a fill factor of 30.9% was achieved under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW cm⁻². © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Reduced‐bandgap triphenylamine‐alt‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene copolymers pending benzothiadiazole or diketopyrrolopyrrole units for efficient polymer solar cells

Two new side‐chain donor–acceptor (D‐A)‐based triphenylamine‐alt‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (TPA‐alt‐BDT) copolymers ( P1 and P2 ) with pendant benzothiadiazole (BT)/diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) in TPA unit were synthesized by Stille coupling polymerization. Their thermal, photophysical, electrochemical, blend film morphology and photovoltaic properties were investigated. Efficient bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (PSCs) were obtained by solution process using both copolymers as donor materials and PC₇₁BM as acceptor. The maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.17% with a highest open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.86V was observed in the P1 ‐based PSCs, while the maximum short‐circuit current (J_sc) of 10.77 mA cm^?2 was exhibited in the P2 ‐based PSCs under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW cm^?2. The alternating binary donor units and pending acceptor groups played a significant role in tuning photovoltaic properties for this class of the side‐chain D–A‐based copolymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4103–4110     

A Soluble High Molecular Weight Copolymer of Benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and Benzoxadiazole for Efficient Organic Photovoltaics

The synthesis and characterization of a soluble high molecular weight copolymer based on 4,8‐bis(1‐pentylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and 2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole is presented. High efficiency organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices comprised of this polymer and phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) were fabricated by additive processing with 1‐chloronapthalene (CN). When the active layer is cast from pristine chlorobenzene (CB), power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) average 1.41%. Our best condition—using 2% chloronapthalene as a solvent additive in CB—results in an average PCE of 5.65%, with a champion efficiency of 6.05%.

     

Synthesis,characterization, and field‐effect transistor performance of poly[2,6‐bis(3‐tridecanoxythiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b;4,5‐b′]dithiophene]

A new copolymer of benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and 3,3′‐bis(tridecanoxy)‐5,5′‐bithiophene was synthesized through Stille copolymerization. The bis‐(3‐alkoxythiophene) monomer was synthesized through a silver fluoride mediated, palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling, in which bromide functional groups were preserved instead of consumed. The copolymer has been characterized and applied in field‐effect transistors, giving a hole mobility of 2 × 10^?3 cm²/Vs and an on/off ratio >10⁶, with negligible hysteresis, on standard silicon substrates. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1973–1978, 2010     

A vinylene‐linked benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole low‐bandgap polymer

A new heteroarylene‐vinylene donor–acceptor polymer P(BDT‐V‐BTD) with reduced bandgap has been synthesized and its photophysical, electronic and photovoltaic properties investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The structure of the polymer comprises an unprecedented combination of a strong donor (4,8‐dialkoxy‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene, BDT), a strong acceptor (2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole, BTD) and a vinylene spacer. The new polymer was obtained by a metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling Stille reaction and fully characterized by NMR, UV–vis absorption, GPC, TGA, DSC and electrochemistry. Detailed ab initio computations with solvation effects have been performed for the monomer and model oligomers. The electrochemical investigation has ascertained the ambipolar character of the polymer and energetic values of HOMO, LUMO and bandgap matching materials‐design rules for optimized organic photovoltaic devices. The HOMO and LUMO energies are consistently lower than those of previous heteroarylene‐vinylene polymer while the introduction of the vinylene spacer afforded lower bandgaps compared to the analogous system P(BDT‐BTD) with no spacer between the aromatic rings. These superior properties should allow for enhanced photovoltages and photocurrents in photovoltaic devices in combination with PCBM. Preliminary photovoltaic investigation afforded relatively modest power conversion efficiencies of 0.74% (AM 1.5G, 100 mW/cm²), albeit higher than that of previous heteroarylene‐vinylene polymers and comparable to that of P(BDT‐BTD). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of highly conjugated side‐group‐substituted benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐based copolymer for use in organic solar cells

A new donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated copolymer based on benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT) and thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD) was synthesized via a Stille cross‐coupling reaction. A highly conjugated thiophene‐based side group, tris(thienylenevinylene) (TTV), was incorporated into each BDT unit to generate the two‐dimensional D–A copolymer (PBDT‐TTV). An alkoxy‐substituted BDT‐based TPD copolymer (PBDT‐OR) was synthesized using the same polymerization method for comparison. PBDT‐TTV thin films produced two distinct absorption peaks. The shorter wavelength absorption (458 nm) was attributed to the BDT units containing the TTV group, and the longer wavelength band (567–616 nm) was attributed to intramolecular charge transfer between the BDT donor and the TPD acceptor. The highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels of PBDT‐OR and PBDT‐TTV were calculated to be −5.53 and −5.61 eV, respectively. PBDT‐TTV thin films harvested a broad solar spectrum covering the range 300–700 nm. A comparison with the PBDT‐OR films revealed stronger interchain π–π interactions in the PBDT‐TTV films and, thus, a higher hole mobility. A polymer solar cell device prepared using PBDT‐TTV as the active layer was found to exhibit a higher power conversion efficiency than a device prepared using PBDT‐OR under AM 1.5 G (100 mW/cm²) conditions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 653–660     

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

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%. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 316–324     

Poly(4,8‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene vinylene): Synthesis,optical and photovoltaic properties

A new benzodithiophene (BDT)‐based polymer, poly(4,8‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene vinylene) (PBDTV), was synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed Stille‐coupling method. The polymer is soluble in common organic solvents and possesses high thermal stability. PBDTV film shows a broad absorption band covering from 350 nm to 618 nm, strong photoluminescence peaked at 545 nm and high hole mobility of 4.84 × 10^?3 cm²/Vs. Photovoltaic properties of PBDTV were studied by fabricating the polymer solar cells based on PBDTV as donor and PC₇₀BM as acceptor. With the weight ratio of PBDTV: PC₇₀BM of 1:4 and the active layer thickness of 65 nm, the power conversion efficiency of the device reached 2.63% with V_oc = 0.71 V, I_sc = 6.46 mA/cm², and FF = 0.57 under the illumination of AM1.5, 100 mW/cm². © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1822–1829, 2010     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of copolymers based on benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and thiophene with electron‐withdrawing side chains

Six alternating conjugated copolymers ( PL1 – PL6 ) of benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT) and thiophene, containing electron‐withdrawing oxadiazole (OXD), ester, or alkyl as side chains, were synthesized by Stille coupling reaction. The structures of the polymers were confirmed, and their thermal, optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties were investigated. The introduction of conjugated electron‐withdrawing OXD or formate ester side chain benefits to decrease the bandgaps of the polymers and improve the photovoltaic performance due to the low steric hindrance of BDT. Bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated based on the blend of the as‐synthesized polymers and the fullerene derivative [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₆₁BM) in a 1:2 weight ratio. The maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.06% was obtained for PL5 ‐based PSC under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm². © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Donor–acceptor‐structured naphtodithiophene‐based copolymers for organic thin‐film transistors

New donor–acceptor (D‐A) polymers, poly(4,5‐bis(2‐octyldodecyloxy)naphto[2,1‐b:3,4‐b']dithiophenebenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole) (PNDT‐B) and poly(4,5‐bis(2‐octyldodecyloxy)naphto [2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene‐4,7‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole) (PNDT‐TBT), with the extended π‐electron delocalization of naphtho[2,1‐b:3,4‐b']dithiophene, were successfully synthesized by Suzuki and Stille coupling reactions. The structure and physical properties of polymers were characterized by DFT calculation, UV–vis absorption, cyclovoltammetry, TGA and DSC analyses. X‐ray diffraction studies indicated a relatively highly ordered intermolecular structure in PNDT‐TBT after annealing. This high degree of molecular order resulted from the crystallinity and increasing planarity, provided by the thiophene linker groups and the interdigitation of the long alkoxy side chains. The new D‐A polymer, PNDT‐TBT, exhibited a p‐type carrier mobility of 0.028 cm²/Vs and an on/off ratio of 5.9 × 10³. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 525–531     

Synthesis,characterization, and organic field‐effect transistors study of conjugated D–A copolymers based on dialkylated naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene/naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]difuran and benzodiathiazole/benzoxadiazole

In this report, four donor–acceptor copolymers, P(NDT3‐BT), P(NDT3‐BO), P(NDF3‐BT), and P(NDF3‐BO), using 5,10‐didodecyl‐naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene (NDT3) or 5,10‐didodecyl‐naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]difuran (NDF3) as an electron‐rich unit and benzodiathiazole (BT) or benzoxadiazole (BO) as an electron‐deficient one, were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Detailed systematical investigation was developed for studying the effect of the S/O atoms on the optical, electrochemical, and morphological properties of the polymers, as well as the subsequent performance of the organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) fabricated from these copolymers. It was found that, compared with NDF3‐based P(NDF3‐BT)/P(NDF3‐BO), by replacing NDF3 with stronger aromatic NDT3, the resultant P(NDT3‐BT)/P(NDT3‐BO) show smaller lamellar distance with an increased surface roughness in solid state, and relatively higher hole mobilities are obtained. The hole mobilities of the four polymers based on OFETs varied from 0.20 to 0.32 cm² V^?1 s^?1 depending on their molecular structures, giving some valuable insights for the further design and development of a new generation of semiconducting materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2465–2476     

Acceptor–acceptor conjugated copolymers based on perylenediimide and benzothiadiazole for all‐polymer solar cells

Donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated copolymers are one of known classes of organic optoelectronic materials and have been well developed. However, less attention has been paid on acceptor–acceptor (A–A) conjugated analogs. In this work, two types of A–A conjugated copolymers, namely P1‐Cn and P2‐Cn (n is the carbon number of their alkyl side chains), were designed and synthesized based on perylenediimide ( PDI ) and 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole ( BT ). Different from P1‐Cn , P2‐Cn polymers have additional acetylene π‐spacers between PDI and BT and thus hold a more planar backbone configuration. Property studies revealed that P2‐Cn polymers possess a much red‐extended UV–vis absorption spectrum, stronger π–π interchain interactions, and one‐order larger electron mobility in their neat film state than P1‐Cn . However, all‐polymer solar cells using P1‐Cn as acceptor component and poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) or poly(2,7‐(9,9‐didodecyl‐fluoene)‐alt?5,5′‐(4,7‐dithienyl‐2‐yl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole) as donor component exhibited much better performance than those based on P2‐Cn . Apart from their backbone chemical structure, the side chains were found to have little influence on the photophysical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties for both P1‐Cn and P2‐Cn polymers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1200–1215     

Synthesis and photovoltaic performances of benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene‐alt‐2,3‐diphenylquinoxaline copolymers pending functional groups in phenyl rings

Two donor/acceptor (D/A)‐based benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐alt‐2,3‐biphenyl quinoxaline copolymers of P 1 and P 2 were synthesized pending different functional groups (thiophene or triphenylamine) in the 4‐positions of phenyl rings. Their thermal, photophysical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties, as well as morphology of their blending films were investigated. The poly(4,8‐bis((2‐ethyl‐hexyl)oxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b'] dithiophene)‐alt‐(2,3‐bis(4′‐bis(N,N‐bis(4‐(octyloxy) phenylamino)‐ 1,1′‐biphen‐4‐yl)quinoxaline) ( P 2) exhibited better photovoltaic performance than poly(4,8‐bis((2‐ethylhexyl)oxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b'] dithiophene)‐alt‐(2,3‐bis(4‐(5‐octylthiophen‐2‐yl)phenyl)quinoxaline) ( P 1) in the bulk‐heterojunction polymer solar cells with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymers: [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM)/LiF/Al. A power conversion efficiency of 3.43%, an open‐circuit voltage of 0.80 V, and a short‐circuit current of 9.20 mA cm^?2 were achieved in the P 2‐based cell under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW cm^?2. Importantly, this power conversion efficiency level is 2.29 times higher than that in the P 1‐based cell. Our work indicated that incorporating triphenylamine pendant in the D/A‐based polymers can greatly improved the photovoltaic properties for its resulting polymers.     

Low bandgap π‐conjugated copolymers based on fused thiophenes and benzothiadiazole: Synthesis and structure‐property relationship study

A series of low bandgap conjugated polymers consisting of benzothiadiazole alternating with dithienothiophene (DTT) or dithienopyrrole (DTP) unit with or without 3‐alkylthiophene bridge have been synthesized. Effect of the fused rings and 3‐alkylthiophene bridge on the thermal, optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties of these polymers have been investigated. These polymers show broad absorption extending from 300 to 1000 nm with optical bandgaps as low as 1.2 eV; the details of which can be varied either by incorporating 3‐alkylthiophene bridge or by replacing DTT with DTP. The LUMO levels (?2.9 to ?3.3 eV) are essentially unaffected by the specific choice of donor moiety, whereas the HOMO levels (?4.6 to ?5.6 eV) are more sensitive to the choice of donor. The DTT and DTP polymers with 3‐alkylthiophene bridge were found to exhibit hole mobilities of 8 × 10^?5 and 3 × 10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively, in top‐contact organic field‐effect transistors. Power conversion efficiencies in the range 0.17–0.43% were obtained under simulated AM 1.5, 100 mW cm^?2 irradiation for polymer solar cells using the DTT and DTP‐based polymers with 3‐alkylthiophene bridge as donor and fullerene derivatives as acceptor. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5498–5508, 2009     

Benzo[2,1‐b;3,4‐b′]dithiophene‐based low‐bandgap polymers for photovoltaic applications

The synthesis of four alternating copolymers using benzo[2,1‐b;3,4‐b′]dithiophene (BDP) as the common donor unit is presented. Before the synthesis, theoretical calculations that we performed predicted that the incorporation of BDP, which consists of fused dithiophene units with a benzene ring, into these polymers would produce a low‐lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level. Low‐lying HOMO levels are desirable to produce high open circuit voltages (V_OC) in organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic devices. The polymers' structural characterization, as well as the preliminary results of their performance in BHJ devices, using (6,6)‐phenyl C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester as the electron acceptor, is presented. The V_OC values follow the expected trend: increasing with decreasing HOMO level of the polymer. High V_OC values of 0.81 and 0.82 V have been obtained from two polymers: PBDPBT and PBDPDPP. The initial power conversion efficiency achieved in these unoptimized devices was 1.11% because of relatively low J_SC values. The variation observed in the J_SC values between the four polymers is discussed. Device performance is expected to increase with optimization of processing conditions for the devices. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Detrimental Ni(0) transfer in Kumada catalyst transfer polycondensation of benzo[2,1‐b:3,4‐b']dithiophene

This article deals with the Kumada Catalyst Transfer Polycondensation (KCTP) of 4,7‐dioctylbenzo[2,1‐b:3,4‐b']dithiophene ( BDP‐Oct ) using Ni(II) catalyst or In/cat combination. A combination of MALDI MS, GPC, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy is used to reveal the failure of the KCTP of this particular monomer. Intermolecular transfer reactions to monomer appeared to prevent the formation of polymer. This result is remarkable, since isomeric benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene polymerizes in a controlled way. The presence of a “non‐aromatic double bond” in annulated monomers is discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1706–1712     

Alternating copolymers incorporating cyclopenta[2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene unit and organic dyes for photovoltaic applications

We have synthesized six p‐type copolymers, CPDT ‐ co ‐ TPADCN , CPDT ‐ co ‐ TPADTA , CPDT ‐ co ‐ TPATCN , CPDT ‐ co ‐ DFADCN , CPDT ‐ co ‐ DFADTA , and CPDT ‐ co ‐ DFATCN , consisting of a cyclopenta[2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene (CPDT) unit and an organic dye in an alternating arrangement. Triphenylamine (TPA) or difluorenylphenyl amine (DFA) units serve as the electron donors, whereas dicyanovinyl (DCN), 1,3‐diethyl‐2‐thiobarbituric acid, or tricyanovinyl (TCN) units act as the electron acceptors in the dyes. The target polymers were prepared via Stille coupling, followed by postfunctionalization to introduce the electron acceptors to the side chains. Because of the strongest withdrawing ability of TCN acceptor to induce efficient intramolecular charge transfer, CPDT ‐ co ‐ TPATCN and CPDT ‐ co ‐ DFATCN exhibit the broader absorption spectra covering from 400 to 900 nm and the narrower optical band gaps of 1.34 eV. However, the CPDT ‐ co ‐ TPATCN :PC₇₁BM and CPDT ‐ co ‐ DFATCN :PC₇₁BM based solar cells showed the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 0.22 and 0.31%, respectively, due to the inefficient exciton dissociation. The DFA‐based polymers possess deeper‐lying HOMO energy levels than the TPA‐based polymer analogues, leading to the higher V_oc values and better efficiencies. The device based on CPDT ‐ co ‐ DFADTA :PC₇₁BM blend achieved the best PCE of 1.38% with a V_oc of 0.7 V, a J_sc of 4.57 mA/cm², and a fill factor of 0.43. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Modulation of electronic properties of π‐conjugated copolymers derived from naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene donor unit: A structure‐property relationship study

A set of three donor‐acceptor conjugated (D‐A) copolymers were designed and synthesized via Stille cross‐coupling reactions with the aim of modulating the optical and electronic properties of a newly emerged naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene donor unit for polymer solar cell (PSCs) applications. The PTNDTT‐BT , PTNDTT‐BTz , and PTNDTT‐DPP polymers incorporated naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene ( NDT ) as the donor and 2,2′‐bithiazole ( BTz ), benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole ( BT ), and pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4(2H,5H)‐dione ( DPP ), as the acceptor units. A number of experimental techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, X‐ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy were used to determine the thermal, optical, electrochemical, and morphological properties of the copolymers. By introducing acceptors of varying electron withdrawing strengths, the optical band gaps of these copolymers were effectively tuned between 1.58 and 1.9 eV and their HOMO and LUMO energy levels were varied between ?5.14 to ?5.26 eV and ?3.13 to ?3.5 eV, respectively. The spin‐coated polymer thin film exhibited p‐channel field‐effect transistor properties with hole mobilities of 2.73 × 10^?3 to 7.9 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1. Initial bulk‐heterojunction PSCs fabricated using the copolymers as electron donor materials and [6,6]‐phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) as the acceptor resulted in power conversion efficiencies in the range of 0.67–1.67%. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2948–2958     

Influence of 4‐fluorophenyl pendants in thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐based polymers on the performance of photovoltaics

Polymers consisting of benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene units (PTB‐based polymers), either fully or partially containing 4‐fluorophenyl pendants, are synthesized as electron donor materials for inverted‐type polymer solar cells (PSCs). The influence of the 4‐fluorophenyl pendant content on the thermal and optical properties, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the hole mobilities, and photovoltaic performances are investigated. As the 4‐fluorophenyl pendant content increased, the HOMO and LUMO of the polymers were deepened proportionally and the open‐circuit voltages of the PSCs improved. Incorporation of 4‐fluorophenyl pendants into the polymers also affected the crystallinity, orientation, and compatibility with [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester in the active layers, leading to nonlinearities in the short‐circuit current densities, and fill factors. The incorporation of an appropriate number of 4‐fluorophenyl pendants enhanced the power conversion efficiencies of the PSC devices from 2.25 to 3.96% for identical device configurations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1586–1593     

Polymers for application in organic solar cells: Bithiophene can work better than thienothiophene when coupled to benzodithiophene

The synthesis and characterization of two low band gap copolymers ( P1 and P2 ) incorporating benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene unit substituted with octylsulfanylthienyl groups (OSBT) are here reported. These materials, designed to be employed in polymer solar cells (PSCs), were obtained from alternating OSBT and bithiophene ( P1 ) or thienothiophene ( P2 ) units. Their structural electrochemical and photophysical properties were investigated. They are thermally stable and soluble in organic solvents from which they easily form films. They also form π‐stacks in solution, in film and display a moderate solvatochromism. These polymers were tested with [70]PCBM in bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) PSCs where they act as donor materials and [70]PCBM is the electron acceptor. The best device, obtained using a 1:3 weight ratio for the P1 :[70]PCBM blend, shows a PCE around 1.5%. A broad response from 350 to 700 nm is also observed in the external quantum efficiency (EQE) curves, wider for P1 with respect to P2 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1603–1614