Benzotriazole and Benzodithiophene Containing Medium Band Gap Polymer for Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cell Applications

An alternating donor-acceptor copolymer based on a benzotriazole and benzodithiophene was synthesized and selenophene was incorporated as -bridge. The photovoltaic and optical properties of polymer were studied. The copolymer showed medium band gap and dual absorption peaks in UV-Vis absorption spectra. Photovoltaic properties of P-SBTBDT were performed by conventional device structure. The OSC device based on polymer: PC71BM (1:1, w/w) exhibited the best PCE of 3.60% with a V-oc of 0.67 V, a J(sc) of 8.95 mA/cm(2), and a FF of 60%. This finding was supported with morphological data and space charge limited current (SCLC) mobilities. The hole mobility of the copolymer was estimated through SCLC model. Although surface roughness of the active layer is really high, mobility of a polymer was found as 7.46 x 10(-3) cm(2)/Vs for optimized device that can be attributed to Se-Se interactions due to the larger, more-polarizable Se atom. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 528-535