Donor Copolymer With Benzo[ 1,2-B: 4,5-B0] Dithiophene And Quinoxaline Derivative Segments For Photovoltaic Applications

A donor copolymer Poly{2,6-4,8-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b]dithiophene-5,8-2,3-bis(5-octylthiophen-2-yl)quinoxaline} (PBDTThQx) with benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b]dithiophene and quinoxaline derivatives was synthesized and characterized with NMR, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses, and cyclic voltammetry. Photovoltaic devices with the configuration indium tin oxide-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate)-PBDTThQx-[6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM)-LiF-Al were fabricated, in which PBDTThQx performed as the electron donor and PC61BM was the electron acceptor in the active layer. The device presented reasonable photovoltaic properties when the weight ratio of PBDTThQx:PC61BM reached 1:3. The open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency were gauged to be 0.75 V, 0.59, and 0.74%, respectively. The experimental data implied that PBDTThQx would be a promising donor candidate in the application of polymer solar cells. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40279.