Aldol Condensation‐Polymerized n‐Doped Conjugated Polyelectrolytes for High‐Performance Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells. Issue 1 (10th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Li; Jing, Jianhua; Tang, Haoran; Liang, Yuanying; Hu, Zhicheng; Rafiq, Muhammad; Huang, Fei; Cao, Yong
• Is Part Of: Solar RRL. Volume 5:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-11-10
• Subjects: conjugated polyelectrolytes -- interface engineering -- n-type doping -- polymer solar cells; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Periodicals; Solar energy -- Research -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Research -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 333.7923
• DOI: 10.1002/solr.202000523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2367-198X

Abstract

Abstract : Doping provides an efficient strategy to control the electronic properties of organic semiconductors. However, compared with the widely reported p‐type doping protocols, n‐type doping of organic semiconductors still remains a challenge. Herein, a series of novel n‐doped conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with high doping levels and conductivity are designed. These CPEs are synthesized via a facile, metal‐free, and high‐yield aldol condensation protocol from bis‐isatin and bis‐oxindole monomers. The designed CPEs possess a n‐type electron‐deficient and rigid conjugated backbone, resulting in easy charge delocalization, enhanced n‐doping behaviors, and high conductivity. The evolution on the counterions of these CPEs further alters their n‐doping behaviors, charge transporting properties, and work function tunability, etc. By using these CPEs as electron transport materials (ETMs) for nonfullerene polymer solar cells (NF–PSCs), high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) over 16% can be achieved when PM6:Y6 is used as the active component. Moreover, these CPEs can enable efficient NF–PSCs even if their thicknesses are up to 60 nm, indicating the potential of these CPEs as thickness‐insensitive ETMs for the fabrication of large‐area NF–PSCs. Abstract : A series of novel n‐doped conjugated polyelectrolytes are designed and synthesized via highly efficient aldol condensation polymerization. The designed conjugated polyelectrolytes possess an electron‐deficient and rigid conjugated backbone, resulting in easy charge delocalization, enhanced n‐doping behaviors, and high conductivity. These conjugated polyelectrolytes can be used as electron transport materials to enable high‐performance nonfullerene polymer solar cells.