Metal-free and metallated polymers: Properties and photovoltaic performance

We have studied the properties of organic and organometallic polymers based on a similar chemical structure to elucidate the influence of the metal center on the optical and electronic properties of the polymers as well as their photovoltaic performance. Detailed characterization of the optical properties of both polymers is performed and film morphology and photovoltaic performance are compared. Metal-containing polymers exhibit red-shifted absorption and under optimal processing conditions exhibit different film morphology compared with the metal-free ones. Our results indicate that organometallic polymers represent a promising class of compounds for improved performance in photovoltaic cells.