New narrow bandgap polymers containing 10-(4-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)phenyl)-10H-phenothiazine/phenoxazine and 3,6-di(2-thienyl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione)-based units: synthesis and photovoltaic properties

Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) is one of the most used moieties in D-A conjugated polymers for high-performance pi-extended conjugated polymer-based organic solar cells. The combination of 1,4-diketo-3,6-dithienylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrroles (DTDPPs) and the donor moieties 10-(4-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)phenyl)-10H-phenothiazine (M-1), 10-(4-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)phenyl)-10H-phenoxazine (M-2), has not been reported yet. In this report, novel low-bandgap D-A conjugated polymer derivatives including DTDPP, phenothiazine and phenoxazine were successfully synthesized via direct (hetero) arylation polymerization with in the yields of 40.94-60.77%. The obtained D-A conjugated polymers named poly(3,6-Di(2-thienyl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione)-alt-(10-(4-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy) phenyl)-10H-phenothiazine) (P-1) and poly(3,6-Di(2-thienyl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione)-alt-(10-(4-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy) phenyl)-10H-phenoxazine) (P-2) exhibited a wide range of absorption spectrum in visible light region and have a low bandgaps of 1.4-1.5 eV, as well as thermal stabilities, these D-A conjugated polymers are very promising as activated polymeric materials for organic solar cells (OSCs).

Automated summary

This study reported the successful synthesis of novel low-bandgap D-A conjugated polymer derivatives, which exhibit a wide absorption spectrum in visible light region and low bandgaps, as well as high thermal stability, making them very promising as key materials for organic solar cells.