Alternating copolymers incorporating cyclopenta[2,1-b: 3,4-b′] dithiophene unit and organic dyes for photovoltaic applications

We have synthesized six p-type copolymers, CPDT-co-TPADCN, CPDT-co-TPADTA, CPDT-co-TPATCN, CPDT-co-DFADCN, CPDT-co-DFADTA, and CPDT-co-DFATCN, consisting of a cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene (CPDT) unit and an organic dye in an alternating arrangement. Triphenylamine (TPA) or difluorenylphenyl amine (DFA) units serve as the electron donors, whereas dicyanovinyl (DCN), 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid, or tricyanovinyl (TCN) units act as the electron acceptors in the dyes. The target polymers were prepared via Stille coupling, followed by postfunctionalization to introduce the electron acceptors to the side chains. Because of the strongest withdrawing ability of TCN acceptor to induce efficient intramolecular charge transfer, CPDT-co-TPATCN and CPDT-co-DFATCN exhibit the broader absorption spectra covering from 400 to 900 nm and the narrower optical band gaps of 1.34 eV. However, the CPDT-co-TPATCN:PC₇₁BM and CPDT-co-DFATCN:PC₇₁BM based solar cells showed the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 0.22 and 0.31%, respectively, due to the inefficient exciton dissociation. The DFA-based polymers possess deeper-lying HOMO energy levels than the TPA-based polymer analogues, leading to the higher V_oc values and better efficiencies. The device based on CPDT-co-DFADTA:PC₇₁BM blend achieved the best PCE of 1.38% with a V_oc of 0.7 V, a J_sc of 4.57 mA/cm ², and a fill factor of 0.43.