Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers
Through manipulation of the solubilizing side chains, we were able to dramatically improve the molecular weight (Mw) of 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT)/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT) copolymers. When dodecyl side chains (P1) are employed at the 4- and 8-positions of the BDT unit, we ob...
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| Language: | English |
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2011-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nanotechnology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/572329 |
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| author | Robert C. Coffin Christopher M. MacNeill Eric D. Peterson Jeremy W. Ward Jack W. Owen Claire A. McLellan Gregory M. Smith Ronald E. Noftle Oana D. Jurchescu David L. Carroll |
| author_facet | Robert C. Coffin Christopher M. MacNeill Eric D. Peterson Jeremy W. Ward Jack W. Owen Claire A. McLellan Gregory M. Smith Ronald E. Noftle Oana D. Jurchescu David L. Carroll |
| author_sort | Robert C. Coffin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Through manipulation of the solubilizing side chains, we were able to dramatically improve the molecular weight (Mw) of 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT)/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT) copolymers. When dodecyl side chains (P1) are employed at the 4- and 8-positions of the BDT unit, we obtain a chloroform-soluble copolymer fraction with Mw of 6.3 kg/mol. Surprisingly, by moving to the commonly employed 2-ethylhexyl branch (P2), Mw decreases to 3.4 kg/mol. This is despite numerous reports that this side chain increases solubility and Mw. By moving the ethyl branch in one position relative to the polymer backbone (1-ethylhexyl, P3), Mw is dramatically increased to 68.8 kg/mol. As a result of this Mw increase, the shape of the absorption profile is dramatically altered, with λmax = 637 nm compared with 598 nm for P1 and 579 nm for P2. The hole mobility as determined by thin film transistor (TFT) measurements is improved from ~1×10−6 cm2/Vs for P1 and P2 to 7×10−4 cm2/Vs for P3, while solar cell power conversion efficiency in increased to 2.91% for P3 relative to 0.31% and 0.19% for P1 and P2, respectively. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5afce8b67aaa4b54b9ba317b2a93f40f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9503 1687-9511 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nanotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5afce8b67aaa4b54b9ba317b2a93f40f2025-02-03T01:33:03ZengWileyJournal of Nanotechnology1687-95031687-95112011-01-01201110.1155/2011/572329572329Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole CopolymersRobert C. Coffin0Christopher M. MacNeill1Eric D. Peterson2Jeremy W. Ward3Jack W. Owen4Claire A. McLellan5Gregory M. Smith6Ronald E. Noftle7Oana D. Jurchescu8David L. Carroll9The Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThe Department of Physics and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USAThrough manipulation of the solubilizing side chains, we were able to dramatically improve the molecular weight (Mw) of 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDT)/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT) copolymers. When dodecyl side chains (P1) are employed at the 4- and 8-positions of the BDT unit, we obtain a chloroform-soluble copolymer fraction with Mw of 6.3 kg/mol. Surprisingly, by moving to the commonly employed 2-ethylhexyl branch (P2), Mw decreases to 3.4 kg/mol. This is despite numerous reports that this side chain increases solubility and Mw. By moving the ethyl branch in one position relative to the polymer backbone (1-ethylhexyl, P3), Mw is dramatically increased to 68.8 kg/mol. As a result of this Mw increase, the shape of the absorption profile is dramatically altered, with λmax = 637 nm compared with 598 nm for P1 and 579 nm for P2. The hole mobility as determined by thin film transistor (TFT) measurements is improved from ~1×10−6 cm2/Vs for P1 and P2 to 7×10−4 cm2/Vs for P3, while solar cell power conversion efficiency in increased to 2.91% for P3 relative to 0.31% and 0.19% for P1 and P2, respectively.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/572329 |
| spellingShingle | Robert C. Coffin Christopher M. MacNeill Eric D. Peterson Jeremy W. Ward Jack W. Owen Claire A. McLellan Gregory M. Smith Ronald E. Noftle Oana D. Jurchescu David L. Carroll Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers Journal of Nanotechnology |
| title | Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers |
| title_full | Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers |
| title_fullStr | Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers |
| title_short | Variation of the Side Chain Branch Position Leads to Vastly Improved Molecular Weight and OPV Performance in 4,8-dialkoxybenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene/2,1,3-benzothiadiazole Copolymers |
| title_sort | variation of the side chain branch position leads to vastly improved molecular weight and opv performance in 4 8 dialkoxybenzo 1 2 b 4 5 b dithiophene 2 1 3 benzothiadiazole copolymers |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/572329 |
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