Synthesis and characterization of three small band gap conjugated polymers for solar cell applications

We report on a new series of small band gap conjugated polymers utilizing donor-acceptor-donor substructures in the polymer backbone to broaden and extend the optical absorption to longer wavelengths. Three polymers were prepared by Suzuki polymerization, using the same donor-acceptor-donor segment but with different comonomers. The goal was to investigate how the optical and electronic properties of the polymers were influenced by the different comonomers. Electrochemical spectroscopy, using square-wave voltammetry, shows that increasing the electron-donating strength of the comonomer will raise the HOMO energy level of the polymer, resulting in a decreased band gap. This result is also manifested by comparing open-circuit voltages from the corresponding laboratory fabricated solar cells. The best performing photovoltaic cell, based on APFO-Green15/[60]PCBM (1:4 w/w), reached a J_sc of 4.2 mA cm ^-2, a V_oc of 0.73 V, and a FF of 0.54, giving a PCE of 1.7%.