Low Bandgap Conjugated Polymers for Polymer Solar Cells Processed with Non-Chlorinated Solvents

Yanhou Geng,  Yunfeng Deng,  Xin Dong,  Zhiyuan Xie,  Fosong Wang
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences


Abstract

Extensive research efforts have been focus on bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) in the last decade, and the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the state-of-the-art devices have surpassed 10%. However, these devices were processed using chlorinated solvents, which have adverse impact on human healthy and the environment. Herein, we synthesized three low bandgap conjugated polymers based on 7-fluoroisoindigo (IID1F) and dithieno[3,2-b;6,7-b]carbaole (DTC), i.e., poly[N-dodecyldithieno[3,2-b;6,7-b]carbazole-alt-7-fluoro-N,N-di(2-octyldodecyl )isoindigo] (P1), poly[N-dodecyldithieno[3,2-b;6,7-b]carbazole-alt-7-fluoro-N,N-di(3-octyltridecy l)isoindigo] (P2) and poly[N-dodecyldithieno[3,2-b;6,7-b]carbazole-alt-7-fluoro-N,N-di(4-octyltetrade cyl)isoindigo] (P3). All three polymers are soluble in non-chlorinated solvent o-xylene owing to regio-random distribution of F-atoms along the conjugated backbone. The position of the alkyl-branching point has a negligible influence on energy levels and absorption spectra of the polymers, but has a small effect on their charge transport properties. BHJ PSCs of the polymers were fabricated with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as electron acceptor. When o-xylene was used as solvent, all three polymers delivered PCEs above 7%. P2 exhibited the best device performance with a PCE of 7.5%. The devices processed with o-xylene showed higher device efficiency than those fabricated with o-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) since the films of polymer:PC61BM blends prepared with o-xylene exhibited better morphology and higher and more balanced charge-carrier mobilities, leading to less recombination loss and higher fill factor (FF).