Synthesis of fluorinated polythienothiophene-co-benzodithiophenes and effect of fluorination on the photovoltaic properties

Herein, we describe the synthesis of fluorinated polythienothiophene-co-benzodithiophenes (PTBFs) and the characterization of their physical properties, especially their performance in solar cells. Fluorination of the polymer backbone lowered both the HOMO and LUMO energy levels and simultaneously widened the energy bandgap of the polymer (0.1-0.2 eV). Incorporation of fluorine into the various positions of the polymer backbone significantly affected the solar cells' power conversion efficiency from 2.3% to 7.2%. Detailed studies revealed that the polymer containing mono-fluorinated thienothiophene gave the best solar cell performance. Perfluorination of the polymer backbone led to poor compatibility with PC(71)BM molecules, thus poor solar energy conversion efficiency. This is possibly due to the enhanced self-organization properties of the polymer chains and the fluorophobicity effect. Furthermore, it was found that perfluorination of the polymer backbone resulted in poor photochemical stability against singlet oxygen attack. Theoretical studies indicated that the internal polarization caused enhancement of the negative charge density on thienothiophene rings, which rendered them vulnerable to [2+4] cycloaddition reaction with singlet oxygen.     

Benzotriazole Based 2D-conjugated Polymer Donors for High Performance Polymer Solar Cells

To design high efficiency polymer solar cells(PSCs), it is of great importance to develop suitable polymer donors that work well with the low bandgap acceptors, providing complementary absorption, forming interpenetrating networks in the active layers and minimizing energy loss. Recently, we developed a series of two-dimension-conjugated polymers based on bithienylbenzodithiophene-alt-benzotriazole backbone bearing different conjugated side chains, generally called J-series polymers. They are medium energy bandgap(Eg) polymers(Eg of ca. 1.80 eV)with strong absorptions in the range of 400-650 nm, and exhibit ordered crystalline structures, high hole mobilities, and more interestingly,tunable energy levels depending on the structure variations. In this feature article, we highlight our recent efforts on the design and synthesis of those J-series polymer donors, including an introduction on the polymer design strategy and emphasis on the crucial function of differential conjugated side chain. Finally, the future opportunities and challenges of the J-series polymers in PSCs are discussed.     

Optimization of the molecular orbital energies of conjugated polymers for optical amplification of fluorescent sensors

Cationic water-soluble poly(fluorene-co-phenylene)s with electron withdrawing or donating substituents on the conjugated backbone were designed and synthesized. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments between these conjugated polymers and dye-labeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA-C*) reveal the importance of matching donor and acceptor orbital energy levels to improve the sensitization of C* emission. Quenching of polymer fluorescence with ssDNA-C* and differences in C* emission suggest involvement of photoinduced charge transfer (PCT) as an energy wasting mechanism. The HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the conjugated polymers and C serve as a preliminary basis to understand the competition between FRET and PCT. Dilution of C in polymer/ssDNA-C complexes by addition of ssDNA yields insight into C*...C self-quenching. Under optimized conditions, where there is no probe self-quenching and minimum PCT, efficient signal amplification is demonstrated despite poor spectral overlap between polymer and C.     

Innenrücktitelbild: Developing Conjugated Polymers with High Electron Affinity by Replacing a C?C Unit with a B←N Unit (Angew. Chem. 12/2015)

The key parameters of conjugated polymers are lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels. Few approaches can simultaneously lower LUMO and HOMO energy levels of conjugated polymers to a large extent (>0.5 eV). Disclosed herein is a novel strategy to decrease both LUMO and HOMO energy levels of conjugated polymers by about 0.6 eV through replacement of a C C unit by a B←N unit. The replacement makes the resulting polymer transform from an electron donor into an electron acceptor, and is proven by fluorescence quenching experiments and the photovoltaic response. This work not only provides an effective approach to tune the LUMO/HOMO energy levels of conjugated polymers, but also uses organic boron chemistry as a new toolbox to develop conjugated polymers with high electron affinity for polymer optoelectronic devices.     

Developing Conjugated Polymers with High Electron Affinity by Replacing a CC Unit with a B←N Unit

The key parameters of conjugated polymers are lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels. Few approaches can simultaneously lower LUMO and HOMO energy levels of conjugated polymers to a large extent (>0.5 eV). Disclosed herein is a novel strategy to decrease both LUMO and HOMO energy levels of conjugated polymers by about 0.6 eV through replacement of a C? C unit by a B←N unit. The replacement makes the resulting polymer transform from an electron donor into an electron acceptor, and is proven by fluorescence quenching experiments and the photovoltaic response. This work not only provides an effective approach to tune the LUMO/HOMO energy levels of conjugated polymers, but also uses organic boron chemistry as a new toolbox to develop conjugated polymers with high electron affinity for polymer optoelectronic devices.     

Systematic investigation of benzodithiophene- and diketopyrrolopyrrole-based low-bandgap polymers designed for single junction and tandem polymer solar cells

The tandem solar cell architecture is an effective way to harvest a broader part of the solar spectrum and make better use of the photonic energy than the single junction cell. Here, we present the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of new low bandgap polymers specifically for tandem polymer solar cells. These polymers have a backbone based on the benzodithiophene (BDT) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) units. Alkylthienyl and alkylphenyl moieties were incorporated onto the BDT unit to form BDTT and BDTP units, respectively; a furan moiety was incorporated onto the DPP unit in place of thiophene to form the FDPP unit. Low bandgap polymers (bandgap = 1.4-1.5 eV) were prepared using BDTT, BDTP, FDPP, and DPP units via Stille-coupling polymerization. These structural modifications lead to polymers with different optical, electrochemical, and electronic properties. Single junction solar cells were fabricated, and the polymer:PC(71)BM active layer morphology was optimized by adding 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) as an additive. In the single-layer photovoltaic device, they showed power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 3-6%. When the polymers were applied in tandem solar cells, PCEs over 8% were reached, demonstrating their great potential for high efficiency tandem polymer solar cells.     

基于1-(4-己氧)苯和2,4,6-三苯基-1,3,5-三嗪功能化芴单元的聚合物蓝光材料的合成与表征

以聚(9,9-二己烷芴)(1)和聚(9,9-二(1-(4-己氧)苯)芴)(2)作为参照物,通过Suzuki偶联反应合成了侧链9位碳含有4-己氧基苯和2,4,6-三苯基-1,3,5-三嗪单元的芴共聚物3.聚合物1,2和3固体粉末的5%质量热损失温度分别是274,318和401℃,玻璃化转变温度分别是91,120和139℃.聚合物1,2和3在甲苯溶液中的最大吸收峰和荧光发射峰分别在380和435 nm.从聚合物1到聚合物3,薄膜的荧光发射最大半峰宽逐渐降低.大体积刚性吸电子2,4,6-三苯基-1,3,5-三嗪基团的引入,使聚合物1,2和3的热稳定性、蓝光发射的色纯度和光谱稳定性逐渐提高,不同工作电压驱动下聚合物3稳定的电致发光光谱进一步证明了这一点.聚合物1,2和3的最高占有轨道能级分别为-5.72,-5.95和-5.96eV,最低未占有轨道能级分别为-2.70,-2.39和-2.43 eV.聚合物1,2和3的三线态能级分别为2.82,2.81和2.97 eV.聚合物1,2和3的单线态-三线态能级差分别是0.32,0.32和0.15 eV.4-己氧基苯的引入使聚合物的能隙变宽,而吸电子的2,4,6-三苯基-1,3,5-三嗪的引入使聚合物单线态-三线态能级差依次减少.聚合物1,2和3粉末均易于形成非晶薄膜.聚合物3粉末的有序性介于聚合物1和2之间,聚合物2侧链的烷氧基苯有助于提高固体粉末有序形态的多样化.综合结果表明,侧链含有刚性4-己氧基苯和2,4,6-三苯基-1,3,5-三嗪基团的无规共聚物3具有更佳的综合光电性质.     

Diazaisoindigo bithiophene and terthiophene copolymers for application in field‐effect transistors and solar cells

Two donor–acceptor conjugated polymers with azaisoindigo as acceptor units and bithiophene and terthiophene as donor units have been synthesized by Stille polymerization. These two polymers have been successfully applied in field‐effect transistors and polymer solar cells. By changing the donor component of the conjugated polymer backbone from bithiophene to terthiophene, the density of thiophene in the backbone is increased, manifesting as a decrease in both ionization potential and in electron affinity. Therefore, the charge transport in field‐effect transistors switches from ambipolar to predominantly hole transport behavior. PAIIDTT exhibits hole mobility up to 0.40 cm²/Vs and electron mobility of 0.02 cm²/Vs, whereas PAIIDTTT exhibits hole mobility of 0.62 cm²/Vs. Polymer solar cells were fabricated based on these two polymers as donors with PC₆₁BM and PC₇₁BM as acceptor where PAIIDTT shows a modest efficiency of 2.57% with a very low energy loss of 0.55 eV, while PAIIDTTT shows a higher efficiency of 6.16% with a higher energy loss of 0.74 eV. Our results suggest that azaisoindgo is a useful building block for the development of efficient polymer solar cells with further improvement possibility by tuning the alternative units on the polymer backbone. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2691–2699     

Liquid crystalline side chain polymer with a poly (Geraniol-co-MMA) backbone and phenylbenzoate mesogenic group: synthesis and characterization

A new side chain liquid crystalline polymers have been synthesized and characterized in which [geraniol-co-MMA] polymer are used as a backbone linked via polymethylene spacer to phenyl benzoate mesogenic group. The polymer exhibits enantiotropic liquid crystallinity with nematic phase and does not exhibit side chain crystallization .A clear difference between the nature of the mesophase is evidenced between [Geraniol-co-MMA] main chain and methacrylate polymers .The LC polymer exhibit glass transition at 40 °C. In a comparative analysis, we discuss the relevance of polymer backbone in the synthesis of side chain liquid crystalline polymers.     

Synthesis and electronic properties of poly (E,E)-[6.2]-(2,5) thiophenophane-1,5-diene)

Cationic cyclopolymerization of (E, E)-[6.2]-(2,5) thiophenophane-1,5-diene ( 2 ) gave polymer 3 which has bridged thiophene rings pendant to the polymer backbone. The structural, thermal, and electronic properties of polymer 3 were compared to those of its benzene analogue ( 1 ) and its nonbridged analogue poly (2-vinylthiophene) ( 5 ). The onsets of thermal degradation for polymers 3 and 5 under helium were 425 and 382°C, respectively. Polymer 3 exhibited conductivity in the 10^?3?10^?4 S/cm range when exposed to iodine vapor, four orders of magnitude higher than for 5 treated in the same manner. Apparent energies of activation for conductivity in iodine saturated polymers 3 (0.57 eV) and 5 (0.61 eV) were calculated from conductivity temperature dependence measurements. Conductivity parameters for iodine saturated 3 show both a higher level of conductivity and weaker temperature dependence than for the corresponding cyclopolymer 1 which has benzene rather than thiophene moieties, suggesting that greater charge generation occurs in 3 , due to the lower oxidation potential of the thiophenophane repeat units. Differences in conductivity behavior for iodine saturated polymers 1, 3 , and 5 are discussed in terms of both charge generation and mobility. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

磺酸盐取代三苯胺类共轭聚电解质的合成及应用研究

通过水相Suzuki偶合反应合成了两种磺酸盐基团取代的三苯胺类共轭聚电解质PTP11和PTP31,对其化学结构进行了表征.通过对其光学和电化学性能进行测试得知,此类聚合物具有和ITO功函数相近的HOMO能级及较高的LUMO能级.磺酸盐基团的存在使得此类聚电解质具有和电中性聚合物所不同的溶解性,当其作为空穴传输材料应用于多层结构的聚合物电致发光器件(PLED)中时,可有效避免空穴传输层-发光层之间的界面混溶问题.以这两种聚合物作为空穴传输材料应用于以PFO-DBT15为发光层的红光PLEDs中时,器件的性能得到了显著提高.此外,磺酸盐基团的不同取代方式会对器件的性能产生一定的影响.     

Intramolecular hydrogen-bond-assisted planarization of asymmetrically functionalized alternating phenylene-pyridinylene copolymers

We report on the synthesis and characterization of a series of asymmetrically functionalized amphiphilic polymers with alternating pi-donor units (e.g., substituted benzene) and pi-acceptor units (e.g., pyridine) along the polymer backbone. The purpose of our present work involves incorporation of functional groups along the main chain to form intrachain hydrogen bonds, which promote planarization of the polymer backbone, and to fine-tune the optical properties. The structure-property relationship of polymers P1-P6 was investigated by means of analytical methods, such as FTIR spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray powder diffraction. All polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, and the optical and fluorescence spectra of the polymers showed significant changes according to the formation (P4, P5) or absence (P6) of intramolecular hydrogen bonding along the polymer backbone. Moreover, the 2,6- or 3,5-linkage of the pyridine rings in P5 and P6, respectively, reduced the conjugation along the polymer backbone and this is reflected in their optical properties. The optical properties of the polymers were influenced by the addition of acid (P1-P6), base (P4-P6), and metal ions (e.g., Cu2+, Fe3+, Ag+, Ni2+, Pd2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Pr3+). Such polymers could be used in various applications, including sensors and stimuli-responsive displays.     

New functional inorganic polymers containing phosphorus

The C=C bond plays numerous roles in polymer science. This moiety is used as a precursor to polymers by addition polymerization and has been incorporated into π-conjugated polymers. The addition polymerization reaction has been extended to P=C bonds and the first example of a poly(methylenephosphine) has been prepared. The new macromolecule is of moderate molecular weight (ca. 10⁴ g/mol) and the oxidized polymers are air-stable. Poly(p-phenylenephosphaalkene), the first π-conjugated polymer containing P=C bonds in the backbone, has been prepared. The UV/Vis spectrum of this polymer shows a red shift in λ_max when compared with molecular model systems.     

Conformation Control of Conjugated Polymers

In the past few decades, conjugated polymers have aroused extensive interest in organic electronic applications. The electrical performance of conjugated polymers has a close relationship with their backbone conformation. The conformation of the polymer backbone strongly affects the πelectron delocalization along polymer chains, the energy band gap, interchain interactions, and further affects charge transport properties. To realize a rigid coplanar backbone that usually possesses efficient intrachain charge transport properties and enhanced π–π stackings, such conformation control becomes a useful strategy to achieve high-performance (semi)conducting polymers. This minireview summarizes the most important polymer structures through conformation control at the molecular level, and then divides these rigid coplanar conjugated polymers into three categories: 1) noncovalent interactions locked conjugated polymers; 2) double-bond linked conjugated polymers; 3) ladder conjugated polymers. The effect of the conformation control on physical nature, optoelectronic properties, and their device performance is also discussed, as well as the challenges of chemical synthesis and structural characterization.     

An n-Type Polythiophene Derivative with Excellent Thermoelectric Performance

Typical n-type conjugated polymers are based on fused-ring electron-accepting building blocks. Herein, we report a non-fused-ring strategy to design n-type conjugated polymers, i.e. introducing electron-withdrawing imide or cyano groups to each thiophene unit of a non-fused-ring polythiophene backbone. The resulting polymer, n-PT1 , shows low LUMO/HOMO energy levels of −3.91 eV/−6.22 eV, high electron mobility of 0.39 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and high crystallinity in thin film. After n-doping, n-PT1 exhibits excellent thermoelectric performance with an electrical conductivity of 61.2 S cm⁻¹ and a power factor (PF) of 141.7 μW m⁻¹ K⁻². This PF is the highest value reported so far for n-type conjugated polymers and this is the first time for polythiophene derivatives to be used in n-type organic thermoelectrics. The excellent thermoelectric performance of n-PT1 is due to its superior tolerance to doping. This work indicates that polythiophene derivatives without fused rings are low-cost and high-performance n-type conjugated polymers.     

Aminosalicylate-based biodegradable polymers: Syntheses and in vitro characterization of poly(anhydride-ester)s and poly(anhydride-amide)s

Poly(anhydride-ester)s and poly(anhydride-amide)s derived from both 4- and 5-aminosalicylate acids (4- and 5-ASA) were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. Thermal and solubility characteristics directly correlated to the polymer backbone composition; polymers based on 5-ASA had greater solubilities in organic solvents than polymers based on 4-ASA, and the poly(anhydride-ester)s thermally decomposed at temperatures nearly 100 °C higher than the corresponding poly(anhydride-amide)s. The polymers were self-contained, controlled-release systems that combine the drug and controlled-release mechanism into the polymer backbone. The erosion and degradation characteristics of the polymers were measured in physiologically relevant media. All polymer matrices fully degraded in media buffered to pH 7.4, whereas in acidic media (pH 1.2), all polymer matrices maintained greater than 50% mass over a 90-day time period. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3667–3679, 2003     

Preparation and characterization of conjugated polymers made by postpolymerization reactions of alternating polyketones

Conjugated polymers possessing a poly(2,5-dimethylene-2,5-dihydrofuran) backbone were prepared through postpolymerization reaction of styrenic polyketones with bromine in one-pot reactions. The modification is proposed to proceed via condensation of two repeating units to form a fully characterized polymer with a poly(2,5-dimethylenetetrahydrofuran) backbone. Subsequent bromination and elimination of HBr yield a polymer with a fully conjugated carbon backbone. The new conjugated polymers were characterized by NMR, IR, and UV-vis spectroscopies and by CV. These polymers have strong absorption in the visible region, with the absorption peaks shifted to the NIR region upon doping with acids. The ease of the synthesis of the starting polyketone and of the modifications allows large-scale preparation of those conjugated polymers.     

Synthesis and physical properties of poly(aryl ether)s containing diphenylacetylene moieties

Poly(aryl ether)s containing diphenylacetylene moieties in the backbone have been synthesized. When the polymers are heated an exothermic reaction, resulting from reaction of the acetylene units, occurs in the range 380- 434°C and the polymers undergo a cross-linking reaction. Polymers cross-linked at 340°C exhibit Tg increases from 2°C to complete disappearance of the Tg depending on the concentration of the diphenylacetylene group which has been incorporated into the polymer. In most cases films of the cross-linked polymers are still flexible and exhibit Young's moduli in the range 1.2-2.1 GPa at 200°C. The solubility or the amount of swelling of these cross-linked polymers in solvents depends on the mol % of diphenylacetylene groups incorporated in the polymer backbone. Copolymers have also been synthesized.     

Synthesis and properties of electrophosphorescent chelating polymers with iridium complexes in the conjugated backbone

The synthesis of electrophosphorescent chelating polymers by Suzuki polycondensation of A-A- and B-B-type monomers is described, in which the fluorene-alt-carbazole (PFCz) segment is used as polymer backbone. By using alkyl-substituted ligands of iridium complex monomers, chelating copolymers with higher contents of iridium complex can be synthesized. Chemical and photophysical characterization confirm that the Ir complex is incorporated into the polymer backbone as one of the monomer repeat units by means of two 5-bromotolylpyridine ligands. Chelating polymers with Ir complexes in the conjugated polymer backbone show highly efficient energy transfer of excitons from the PFCz host segment to the Ir complex by an intramolecular trapping mechanism. The external quantum and luminous efficiencies of a device made with PFCzMppyIrhm4 copolymer reach 4.1 % ph/el (photons/electron) and 5.4 cd A(-1), respectively, at a current density of 32.2 mA cm(-2), an emission peak of 577 nm, and a luminance of 1730 cd cm(-2). Most important, the devices made from the chelating copolymers show no notable efficiency decay with increasing current density due to reduced concentration quenching and triplet-triplet (T-T) annihilation. This indicates that incorporation of the phosphorescent complex into the rigid conjugated polymer main chain is a new way to simultaneously realize high efficiency, long-term stability, and simple processing of phosphorescent polymer light-emitting diodes.     

Chain transfer to polymer in emulsion polymerization

Chain transfer to polymer in emulsion polymerizations of acrylate monomers and vinyl acetate has been studied using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the chemistry by which chain transfer occurs and to quantify the mol% branches resulting from the reaction. In emulsion polymerizations of n-butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and methyl acrylate, chain transfer to polymer proceeds via abstraction of hydrogen atoms from backbone tertiary C-H bonds and typically gives rise to 2-4 mol% branches in the polymers obtained at complete conversion, the level of branching increasing with reaction temperature. For these acrylates, there is no evidence for a significant difference between the extent of chain transfer to polymer. In emulsion polymerizations of vinyl acetate, chain transfer to polymer proceeds mainly via H-abstraction from methyl side-groups, though there is a small contribution from abstraction at backbone tertiary C-H bonds. The levels of branching that result are substantially lower than in acrylate emulsion polymerizations, typically being in the range 0.6-0.8 mol% in the polymers obtained at complete conversion. The level of branching increases with temperature and as the degree of monomer starving (and hence instantaneous conversion) increases. Emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate with a small amount (5-20 wt%) of n-butyl acrylate gives rise to a significant increase in the level of branching (to values around 1.3-1.6 mol%), which results predominantly from H-abstraction of backbone tertiary C-H bonds in n-butyl acrylate repeat units by propagating radicals with vinyl acetate end units.