Synthesis of new methoxy-functionalized polythiophenes for charge transport in organic solar cells

none5The performance of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) and PCBM can be enhanced by the employment of suitably tailored partially substituted poly(oligothiophene)s. In view of this, three new polythiophenes with a different content in a hexamethylenic side chain ending with a methoxy group have been prepared and characterized completely using NMR and FT-IR techniques. The optical features of the synthesized polymers have been compared by registering their UV–Vis spectra both in different solvent–non solvent systems and in film, and their thermal stability, electrical conductivities, and photovoltaic properties have been carefully analyzed. In particular, the two samples with low side-chain content showed very promising electrical performances even if their use as the active layer in polymer-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells has not yet been fully optimized.mixedM. Lanzi; L. Paganin; D. Caretti; L. Setti; F. ErraniM. Lanzi; L. Paganin; D. Caretti; L. Setti; F. Erran