Efficient polymer solar cells based on dialkoxynaphthalene and benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole: A new approach for simple donor–acceptor pair

We reported the synthesis of novel polymeric semiconductor materials based on [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(alkoxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]-thiadiazole)] (PANTBT) and the fabrication of solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 4.2% using the synthesized polymers blended with [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) in bulk heterojunction geometry. By varying the side chains, three polymers were synthesized [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PENTBT), [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(decyloxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PDNTBT), and [poly(4-(5-(1,5-bis(tetradecyloxy)naphthalen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-7-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PTDNTBT), maintaining a low highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level and relatively low band gap, which lead to a high open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the resulting devices. Due to the superior miscibility of PANTBT derivatives with PC70BM, favorable phase separation with a domain size of 10–20 nm was achieved regardless of the crystalline nature of the pristine polymers. PDNTBT with alkyl side chain C10 and PTDNTBT with alkyl side chain C14 showed higher photovoltaic performances. In addition, the effects of the crystalline nature of polymers on the thermal stability of the resulting solar cell devices were discussed in terms of the influence of side chains.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► A dialkyoxynaphthalene unit is good electron donating materials and commercially available. ► Linear alkyl side chain has higher mobility than branched alkyl side chain. ► EQEs related to alkyl chain type and morphology. ► The photovoltaic device based on PDNTBT:PC70BM blend shows power conversion efficiency of 4.15%.