Feasibility for Enhancing Power Conversion Efficiency of P3HT/C₆₀ Polymer Solar Cell by Adding Donor-Acceptor Block Copolymer as a Compatibilizer

Abstract:

This research work has concern a synthesis and application of donor-acceptor block copolymer, namely poly (3-hexyl thiophene)-b-fullerene grafted polystyrene, in bulk heterojunction polymer solar cell based on P3HT/C₆₀ system. The primary aim of this work is to explore a feasibility for using the above block copolymer as a compatibilizer for controlling morphology and enhancing power conversion efficiency of the solar cell. The block copolymer was firstly prepared by synthesizing the P3HT macrointiator via a multiple synthetic route, in accordance with the methods described in literatures. After that, the macroinitiator was further reacted with styrene and chloromethyl:styrene via an ATRP mechanism. Finally, the above copolymer was functionalized with fullerene via an ATRA mechanism to obtain the donor-acceptor block copolymer. Chemical structures, molecular weight and thermal properties of the prepared block copolymer was confirmed by using FTIR, ¹H-NMR, TGA, and UV-Visible spectroscopy technique. Next, the polymer solar cells were fabricated by coating P3HT/C₆₀ onto ITO glass, using a spin coating technique. Au electrode was then coated on top of the active layer, using a thermal evaporator. From the results, it was found that power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the normal cell (P3HT/C₆₀) is 0.02 %. However by adding the prepared block copolymer, PCE of the cell increased to 0.23 %.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 747)
• Pages: 313-316
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.747.313
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Nattawoot Rattanathamwat, Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan, Nonsee Nimitsiriwat, Chanchana Thanachayanont, Udom Asawapirom
• Keywords: Block-Copolymer, Compatibilizer, P3HT Macrointiator, Power Conversion Efficiency

References

[1] Stalmach, U., Boer, B. -D., Videlot, C., Hutten, P. -F., Hadziioannou, G., Semiconducting Diblock Copolymers Synthesized by means of Controlled Radical Polymerization Techniques, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122 (23) (2000) 5464-5472.

DOI: 10.1021/ja000160a

[2] Zhang, Q., Cirpan, A., Russell, T. -P., Emrick, T., Novel Donor-Acceptor Polythiophene-perylene Diblock Copolymers: Synthesis and Photovoltaic Characterization, Macromolecules 42 (2009) 1079-1082.

DOI: 10.1021/ma801504e

[3] Iovu, M.C., Jeffries-El, M., Sheina, E.E., Cooper, J.R., and McCullough, R.D., Regioregular Poly(3-Alkylthiophene) Conducting Block Copolymers, Polymer, 46 (19) (2005) 8582-8586.

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2005.05.035

[4] Peterson, J.D.; Vyazovkin, S.; Wight, C.A., Kinetics of the Thermal and Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Polystyrene, Polyethylene and Poly(Propylene), Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 202(6)(2001) 775-784.

DOI: 10.1002/1521-3935(20010301)202:6<775::aid-macp775>3.0.co;2-g

[5] Kavaklı, C.; Özvatan, N.; Tuncel, S.A.; Salih, B. 1, 4, 8, 11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane Bound to Poly(P-Chloromethylstyrene–Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate) Microbeads for Selective Gold Uptake, Analytica Chimica Acta, 464(2) (2002) 313-322.

DOI: 10.1016/s0003-2670(02)00484-1

[6] Kuila, B.K., Park, K.; Dai, L. Macromolecules, 43(16)(2010)6699-6705.