Structural engineering of poly-(methacrylate) bearing push-pull type pendants oxindole-phenothiazine with tetrazole anchoring acceptor for efficient organic photovoltaic cells. (21st April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramasamy, Selvam; Boopathy, Mani; Johnsanthoshkumar, Samuel; Subramanian, Kathavarayan
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 115(2017)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 136
• Publication Date: 2017-04-21
• Subjects: Oxindole -- Push-pull system -- DSSC -- Polymer-sensitizer; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2017.03.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we report three new metal-free molecularly engineered pendant chromophore bearing polymers, coded POTZP1, POTZP2 and POTZP3. Push-pull methacrylate polymer-sensitizers consisting of phenothiazine as donor and oxindole as π-conjugating linker and tetrazole as anchoring/acceptor, were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the three polymers were systematically investigated. POTZP3-polymer incorporated di-anchoring tetrazole unit exhibited more effective inhibition of charge recombination and greater conducive to electron injection into TiO2 conduction band than the reference polymer (POTZP1) with only single anchor. Under AM 1.5 solar radiation (100 mW cm ─2 ), the POTZP3-based DSSC device exhibited an attractive power conversion efficiency (PCE, η) up to 5.91%, compared to 3.97% for the POTZP1-based device. The results indicate that the solar cell (TiO2 /polymer) performance can be finely modulated through structural engineering of the polymer side-chain. Graphical abstract: The novel metal-free poly(methacrylate) containing oxindole-phenothiazine pendant chromophore with tetrazole anchoring units were synthesized and applied to dye-sensitized solar cells as a new class of polymer dye sensitizers. Highlights: Oxindole-phenothiazine-tetrazole based pendants bearing D-π-A, D2 -π-A and A-D-D-π-A. Di-anchoring units plays a decisive role to good electron recombination resistance between TiO2 /polymer/electrolyte. Overall PCE = 5.91% inPOTZP3 polymer was achieved.