Conjugated polymers (CPs) made up of highly aromatic monomers are excellent light absorbers. This light absorbance is the foundation for photovoltaics used in solar energy. Phenyl C60 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is one of the best electron acceptors in organic photovoltaics (OPV), but lacks the high light absorbance of alternative acceptors. Azadipyrromethenes (ADPs) are one such alternative. ADPs boast excellent light absorbance, and high electron affinity, along with tunable electronic properties. ADP’s have shown promise in OPV as small molecule homoleptic complexes but haven’t had as much success in CPs. Here, a different strategy is used to create CPs with ADP electron acceptors using a reversible condensation polymerization which can avoid the pitfalls of palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions typically employed to form CPs. Incorporation of ADPs first into polymer analogs helps confirm the suitability of this reaction, then polymerization and optimization can occur. Overall, the ability to use ADPs in photovoltaics would be more cost effective and the resulting devices would have a greater overlap with the entirety of the solar spectrum.

Azadipyrromethene copolymers: A different approach

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.