Random polyfluorene co-polymers designed for a better optical absorption coverage of the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum

Abstract

Two alternating polyfluorenes (APFO15-F8BT and APFO3-F8BT) with full absorption of the visible region of the electromagnetic radiation were designed and synthesized for bulk-heterojunction solar cell devices. The optical and electrochemical properties of the two polymers were studied. The two polymers exhibited strong absorption in the visible region with no significant valley over the visible region extending up to 650 nm. Deep HOMO and ideally situated LUMO energy levels were the characteristics of the two polymers as revealed from the square wave voltammogram study: desired properties for extracting high open circuit voltage and for a facile charge transfer to the acceptor component in devices to take place, respectively. Photovoltaic devices were fabricated by blending the two polymers with PCBM[70] and up to ~2% power conversion efficiency were obtained.

KEY WORDS: Polyfluorenes, Bulk-heterojunction solar cells, Optical absorption, HOMO and LUMO

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2014, 28(1), 121-130.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v28i1.14