Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of oligothiophene derivatives

In order to develop novel photovoltaic materials, 5-formyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene (3T-CHO) and rare earth (terbium) complex based on the 5,5′-bis(5-(2,2′-bithiophene))-2,2′-bipyridine (B2TBPY) ligand, were synthesized. The photovoltaic properties of 3T-CHO and Tb complex based on B2TBPY ligand were studied. Under 78.2 mW/cm2 illumination, the ITO/3T-CHO/PCH/Al device has a short circuit current of 1.81 mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 2.25 V, fill fact of 48.3% and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 2.52%. The ITO/B2TBPY-Tb/PCH/Al device has a short circuit current of 2.47 mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 0.57 V, fill fact of 29.1% and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 0.52%.