Rational design of conjugated side chains for high-performance all-polymer solar cells

Huang, Wei1; Li, Meilin1; Lin, Fengyuan1; Wu, Yang2; Ke, Zhifan2; Zhang, Xing1; Ma, Rui1; Yang, Tingbin1; Ma, Wei2; Liang, Yongye1

2018-02

10.1039/c7me00088j

Molecular Systems Design & Engineering   影响因子和分区

2058-9689

With their rapid development in recent years, organic solar cells hold the exciting potential to be a ground-breaking form of solar harvesting technology. Among these, all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) stand out owing to various advantages such as complementary absorption and superior stability. However, the advance of all-PSCs has been greatly impeded by energy level mismatches and unfavorable morphology of the active layer. Here, we report a molecular engineering approach featuring asymmetrical 4-methoxythiophene/ thiophene as conjugated side chains of the donor polymer to fine-tune the energy level alignment and phase separation. The corresponding polymer, namely, poly{4-[5-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-methoxythiophen-2-yl]-8-[5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl]benzo[1,2-b: 4,5-b']dithiophene}-alt-[bis(5-thiophene-2-yl)-5,6-difluoro-2-(2-hexyldecyl)-2H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole-4,7-diyl] (PMOT32) exhibited a power conversion efficiency that exceeded 8.5% in all-PSCs with poly{[N, N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenedicarboximide-2,6-diyl]- alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} (N2200) as the acceptor. PMOT32: N2200 also maintained good photovoltaic performance when processed as a thick film or from non-halogenated solvents. Detailed comparisons with two other polymers with pure thiophene or 4-methoxythiophene as their side chains revealed how these side chains affected the photovoltaic performance via energy level alignment and phase separation.

SCI ; EI

英语

第一 ; 通讯

Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy[DE-AC02-05CH11231]

Chemistry ; Engineering ; Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Materials Science

Chemistry, Physical ; Engineering, Chemical ; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000424988400010

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Web of Science

1.South Univ Sci & Technol China, Shenzhen Key Lab Printed Elect, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
2.Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, State Key Lab Mech Behav Mat, Xian 710049, Shaanxi, Peoples R China

Huang, Wei,Li, Meilin,Lin, Fengyuan,et al. Rational design of conjugated side chains for high-performance all-polymer solar cells[J]. Molecular Systems Design & Engineering,2018,3(1):103-112.

Huang, Wei.,Li, Meilin.,Lin, Fengyuan.,Wu, Yang.,Ke, Zhifan.,...&Liang, Yongye.(2018).Rational design of conjugated side chains for high-performance all-polymer solar cells.Molecular Systems Design & Engineering,3(1),103-112.

Huang, Wei,et al."Rational design of conjugated side chains for high-performance all-polymer solar cells".Molecular Systems Design & Engineering 3.1(2018):103-112.