High open-circuit voltage solar cells using a new thieno[3,4-c] pyrrole-4,6-dione based copolymer

•A new thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-based copolymer PBDTTPD(K), has been synthesized.•The effect of the ketone functional group (K) was examined compared to PBDTTPD.•Inverted Solar cells configuration (ITO/ZnO/polymer: PC61BM/MoO3/Ag) was used.•The stabilization of the HOMO energy level led to enhanced Voc close to 1.0 V.

A new thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) based copolymer (PBDTTPD(K)) was prepared. A ketone group on the solubilizing side chain of TPD moiety was introduced and the resulting PBDTTPD(K) has deep HOMO energy level (5.61 eV) and a bandgap of 1.77 eV. Inverted solar cells with high open-circuit voltage (Voc) near 1.0 V were obtained.

Graphical abstractA new thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) copolymer (PBDTTPD(K)) was prepared. Electro-optical properties were tuned by adding a ketone group on the solubilizing side chain of TPD moiety. PBDTTPD(K) has deep HOMO and small bandgap. Solar cells with high open-circuit voltage (Voc) near 1.0 V were obtained.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide