Conjugated polymers based on new thienylene – PPV derivatives for solar cell applications

• Published in: Electrochemistry communications Vol. 4; no. 11; pp. 912 - 916
• Main Authors: Wagner, Pawel, Aubert, Pierre-Henri, Lutsen, Laurence, Vanderzande, Dirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01-11-2002; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT); Applied sciences; Conjugated polymers; Cyanovinylenephenylene; Electrochemistry; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; Optical properties; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Electrochemistry; Conjugated polymers; 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT); Cyanovinylenephenylene; Optical properties; Performance evaluation; Conducting polymers; Conjugated polymer; Thiophene derivative polymer; Aromatic polymer; Polymer solid electrolyte; Phenylenevinylene derivative polymer; Heterocyclic polymer; Photovoltaic cell
• ISSN: 1388-2481; 1873-1902
• DOI: 10.1016/S1388-2481(02)00487-3

Two π-conjugated monomers based on bis-(1-cyano-2-thienyl-vinylene)phenylene derivatives were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation. Both monomers are found to form electroactive polymers upon electrochemical oxidation. The withdrawing effect due to the cyano-substituent allows for the reversible
n-doping of the polymer. Thus, the band
gap
E
g was measured using electrochemical techniques and compared with that obtained by UV–VIS–NIR spectroscopy. Based on the measured band gap of 1.87 and 1.58 eV, these polymers appear to be interesting candidates for solar-cell applications.