Enhanced performance of organic photovoltaic cells fabricated with a methyl thiophene-3-carboxylate-containing alternating conjugated copolymer

Min Ju Cho, Jangwon Seo, Kyung Hwan Kim, Dong Hoon Choi, Paras N. Prasad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A new donor-acceptor copolymer, containing benzodithiophene (BDT) and methyl thiophene-3-carboxylate (3MT) units, is designed and synthesized for polymer solar cells (PSCs). The 3MT unit is used as an electron acceptor unit in this copolymer to provide a lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level for obtaining polymer solar cells with a higher open-circuit voltage (V OC). The resulting bulk heterojunction PSC made of the copolymer and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 71BM) exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 4.52%, a short circuit current (J SC) of 10.5 mA·cm- 2, and a V OC of 0.86 V. A new donor-acceptor type copolymer containing methyl thiophene-3-carboxylate is designed and synthesized to obtain a lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level and strong inter- or intra-molecular interaction between polymers. The photovoltaic device based-on this copolymer exhibits a power conversion efficiency up to 4.52% and an open-circuit voltage of 0.86 V.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)146-151
Number of pages6
JournalMacromolecular Rapid Communications
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Jan 27

Keywords

  • PCBM
  • bulk heterojunction
  • conjugated polymers
  • copolymerization
  • polymer solar cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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