Open circuit voltage increase by substituted spacer and thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione for polymer solar cells

We reported on two donor polymers containing thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione(TPD) derivatives as electron withdrawing units for organic photovoltaics (OPVs). To control molecular weight and solubility of polymers, hexyl side chains are inserted to thiophene spacers. Due to the electron donating characteristic of hexyl side chains, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of polymer is decreased as 0.18 eV, whereas the open circuit voltage is increased to 1.08 V. When bulk heterojunction devices were fabricated, the best PCE value of 0.360% (VOC = 0.89 V, JSC = 1.2 mA/cm2, FF = 36.3%) under 100 mW/cm2 irradiation.