A High-Mobility Low-Bandgap Copolymer for Efficient Solar Cells

A new high-mobility low-bandgap polymer, PBDT-DODTBT, based on benzodithiophene and 5,6-bis(octyloxy)-4,7-di(thiophen-2-yl) benzothiadiazole has been synthesized through a standard Stille coupling reaction. The polymer is soluble in common organic solvents, such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and chlorobenzene and has excellent film forming properties. Preliminary studies of the copolymer showed the charge mobility as high as 7.15 x 10(-3) cm(2).V-1. s(-1) from SCLC measurement. Initial photovoltaic cells based on the composite structure of ITO/PEDOT: PSS/PBDT-DODTBT: (PC71BM)-P-alpha (1:2)/Ca/Al showed an open-circuit voltage of 0.76 V, a power conversion efficiency of 4.02%, and a short-circuit current of 8.96mA.cm(-2).