Issue 4, 2017, Issue in Progress

A novel random terpolymer for high-efficiency bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells

Abstract

A new random terpolymer, coded LGC-D013, based on N-alkylthieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) as the acceptor and benzodithiophene (BDT) and terthiophene as the donor units, has been synthesized and characterized as a donor material in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaic (OPV) applications. The thermal, optical, and electrochemical properties of the LGC-D013 were characterized. The polymer has a deep highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of −5.56 eV and an optical band gap of 1.84 eV in film. The OPV based on LGC-D013:PC71BM blend film demonstrated a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.09%, with a relatively high fill factor (FF) of 72.55%. After 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) treatment with a 3% volume ratio, the short circuit current density (Jsc) was improved from 9.48 to 11.29 mA cm−2, and FF was improved from 72.55 to 73.13%, resulting in PCE improvement from 6.09 to 7.22%. The BHJ OPV using LGC-D013 as the donor polymer based on TPD and BDT with terthiophene showed an improved fill factor as high as 72%, which is higher than those of conventional TPD–BDT based polymers.

Graphical abstract: A novel random terpolymer for high-efficiency bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Nov 2016
Accepted
22 Dec 2016
First published
12 Jan 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 1975-1980

A novel random terpolymer for high-efficiency bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells

S. Bang, S. Kang, Y. Lee, B. Lim, H. Heo, J. Lee, Y. Lee and S. Na, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 1975 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA27518D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements