Issue 30, 2009

Well-defined donor–acceptor rod–coil diblock copolymers based on P3HT containing C60: the morphology and role as a surfactant in bulk-heterojunction solar cells

Abstract

The synthesis of well-defined rod–coil block copolymers consisting of P3HT donor and C60 acceptor chromophores (P3HT-b-P(SxAy)-C60) in a molecular architecture is reported for use in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. In thin films of the resulting block copolymer, reproducible self-assembly into well-defined “nanofibrils” is observed. This is the first example of a block copolymer containing a C60 derivative that shows exclusively a nanofibrilar structure. We have investigated the potential utility of the block copolymer as a “surfactant” for controlling the interface morphology of the P3HT:PCBM donor–acceptor phase domains within the composite. We find a substantial improvement in device performance when 5% of block copolymer are introduced to the P3HT:PCBM blend system, resulting in ca. 35% improved efficiency relative to the P3HT:PCBM solar cell fabricated without the “surfactant”.

Graphical abstract: Well-defined donor–acceptor rod–coil diblock copolymers based on P3HT containing C60: the morphology and role as a surfactant in bulk-heterojunction solar cells

  • This article is part of the themed collection: Solar cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Jan 2009
Accepted
20 Apr 2009
First published
09 Jun 2009

J. Mater. Chem., 2009,19, 5416-5423

Well-defined donor–acceptor rod–coil diblock copolymers based on P3HT containing C60: the morphology and role as a surfactant in bulk-heterojunction solar cells

C. Yang, J. K. Lee, A. J. Heeger and F. Wudl, J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 5416 DOI: 10.1039/B901732A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements