Pd-catalysed direct arylation polymerisation for synthesis of low-bandgap conjugated polymers and photovoltaic performance

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2012 Nov 23;33(22):1927-32. doi: 10.1002/marc.201200368. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

Low-bandgap conjugated copolymers based on a donor-acceptor structure have been synthesised via palladium-complex catalysed direct arylation polymerisation. Initially, we report the optimisation of the synthesis of poly(cyclopentadithiophene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (PCPDTBT) formed between cyclopentadithiophene and dibromobenzothiadiazole units. The polymerisation condition has been optimised, which affords high-molecular-weight polymers of up to M(n) = 70 k using N-methylpyrrolidone as a solvent. The polymers are used to fabricate organic photovoltaic devices and the best performing PCPDTBT device exhibits a moderate improvement over devices fabricated using the related polymer via Suzuki coupling. Similar polymerisation conditions have also been applied for other monomer units.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Molecular Weight
  • Palladium / chemistry*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Pyrrolidinones / chemistry
  • Solar Energy*
  • Thiadiazoles / chemistry

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Pyrrolidinones
  • Thiadiazoles
  • poly(2,6-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta(2,1-b-3,4-b0)dithiophene))-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)
  • Palladium
  • N-methylpyrrolidone