Fullerene-functionalized polyesters: synthesis, characterization and incorporation in photovoltaic cells

Fullerene-containing polyesters have been prepared by polycondensation of bifunctional fullerene adducts with tetraethyleneglycol or polyethyleneglycol. The molecular weights of these polymers have been determined by size exclusion chromatography coupled with light scattering. The polymers have also been characterized by NMR, UV/Vis and FTIR spectroscopies. Thanks to their good solubility in common organic solvents and to their good film-forming properties, these fullerene-containing polyesters are easy to process and could be used to evaluate their potential for the preparation of all-polymer donor/acceptor bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells.