Photovoltaic devices based on a novel poly(phenylene ethynylene) derivative

A novel poly(phenylene ethynylene) derivative containing benzothiadiazole (BT) co-monomer (PPE-BT) was synthesized, characterized and used for photovoltaic devices. Photovoltaic devices of ITO/PEDOT-PSS/pristine PPE-BT/Ba/Al and ITO/PEDOT-PSS/PPE-BT + PCBM (1/4 w/w)/Ba/Al were fabricated and their photovoltaic performances were measured and discussed. The energy conversion efficiency and incident photo-current conversion efficiency of photovoltaic device based on PPE-BT + PCBM reached 0.022% (78.2 mW/cm(2), AM1.5) and 1% (391 nm), respectively. Its photosensitivity reached 3.1 mA/W, which is almost one order of magnitude higher compared to that of the pure PPE-BT. The electroluminescence of pristine PPE-BT was almost completely quenched when it was blended with PCBM. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.