Elucidating the Efficiency of Polymer Solar Cells Based on Dicyano-Substituted Vinylene-Thienothiophenylene-Vinylene-Benzodithiophenylene Copolymers: β-Isomers Outperform α-Isomers
Journal
Macromolecules
Journal Volume
54
Journal Issue
17
Pages
7849-7861
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
Two structural isomers of the bisacrylonitrilethienothiophene-benzodithiophene copolymer, pBαCN and pBβCN, have been comprehensively studied by differential calorimetry, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, density functional theory calculation, grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and space-charge-limited current determination. We have obtained insightful information to elucidate why the β-isomer of the copolymer (pBβCN) can achieve a higher open-circuit voltage (0.96 V) along with a higher short-circuit current density (15.62 mA/cm2) and hence a higher power conversion efficiency of 9.27% than the α-isomer of the copolymer (pBαCN) in [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM)-blended bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells. ? 2021 American Chemical Society.
Subjects
Absorption spectroscopy
Butyric acid
Conversion efficiency
Cyclic voltammetry
Density functional theory
Efficiency
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Heterojunctions
High resolution transmission electron microscopy
Isomers
Open circuit voltage
Plants (botany)
X ray scattering
Benzodithiophene
Bulk heterojunction
Differential calorimetry
Grazing incidence
Power conversion efficiencies
Space charge limited currents
Structural isomers
UV-visible absorption spectroscopy
Polymer solar cells
SDGs
Type
journal article