Conjugated polymeric bulk heterojunction (BHJ) based photovoltaics represent one of the most promising technologies for energy harvesting due to their low-cost and scalability. Controlling the morphology at the nanoscale to reduce phase separation suggests significant improvements to increase the efficiency of BHJ solar cells. Block copolymers, which naturally self-assemble into periodic ordered nanostructures, are used to precisely control the morphology.Here, we demonstrate synthesis and characterization of a donor-acceptor block copolymer poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly{[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} (P3HT-b-PNDI). P3HT is a p-type conjugated polymer. The electron mobility of P3HT is in the order of 0.1 cm2 V-1 s-1, and optical absorption at ?max = 500 nm. PNDI is known by the large electron affinity due to its electron deficient core, therefore a good candidate for n-type block for polymer semiconductors. PNDI has a high electron mobility in the order of 0.85 cm2 V-1 s-1, optical absorption at ?max = 391 and 697 nm, and low-absorption band edge of 1.45 eV.

Synthesis, characterization, and device performance of naphthalene diimide based block copolymers

247th National Meeting (2014)

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