$\pi -$Conjugated Copolymers of Thiophene: Effect of Chain Architecture on the Physical and Optoelectronic Properties for Photovoltaic Applications

POSTER

Abstract

We found that polymer chain architecture strongly influences phase separation capabilities of the donor-acceptor blend in bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices. Ni-catalyzed controlled polymerization was utilized to access new conjugated copolymers of 3-hexylthiophene and 3-(hexyloxy)methylthiophene, two donor polymers. Monomer sequence was controlled along the copolymer chain by the rate of addition of the comonomers, to achieve diblock, random and gradient copolymer chain architectures. This allowed us to study the effect of copolymer sequence of polythiophene based copolymer/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend on the structure, nanoscale morphology and local charge transport properties using conductive and photoconductive atomic force microscopy. The gradient configuration showed the largest phase separation behavior with PCBM.

Authors

  • Jojo Amonoo

    Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Emmanouil Glynos

    University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Chelsea Chen

    Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Anton Li

    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Jonas Locke

    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Anne McNeil

    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Peter Green

    University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann arbor