Enhancing the power conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells via selection of quinoxaline substituents


KARAGACTI O., CEVHER Ş. C., HIZALAN G., HACIOGLU S. O., TOPPARE L., ÇIRPAN A.

NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, vol.41, no.23, pp.14635-14645, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 41 Issue: 23
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Doi Number: 10.1039/c7nj03312e
  • Journal Name: NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.14635-14645
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, three random copolymers including quinoxaline derivatives with different substituent groups, 2,6-bis(trimethylstannyl)-4,8-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy) benzo[1,2-b: 4,5-b'] dithiophene and 4,7-dibromo2-(2-octyldodecyl)-2H-benzo[d][1,2,3] triazole, were designed and synthesized according to the donoracceptor (D-A) approach. H-1 NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and gel permeation chromatography were utilized for the characterization of the polymers. Optical studies were performed in order to investigate the absorption behaviors of the polymers. P1, P2 and P3 demonstrate broad visible light absorption behavior with maximum absorption peaks around 374/539, 493/535 and 488/532 nm and their optical band gap values were calculated as 1.74, 1.87 and 1.70 eV respectively. Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices were fabricated using the synthesized polymers as electron donors with fullerene derivatives where the best power conversion efficiencies were found to be 2.03% for P1 : PC71BM (1 : 3, w: w), 2.22% for P2 : PC71BM (1 : 4, w: w) and 1.52% for P3 : PC71BM (1 : 2, w: w) with methanol treatment.