Issue 5, 2015

Diselenogermole as a novel donor monomer for low band gap polymers

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a new diseleno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]germole (DSG) monomer containing branched 2-ethylhexyl sidechains on the bridging germanium group. The utility of this new electron rich monomer is explored by co-polymerisation of a distannylated DSG monomer with N-octylthienopyrrolodione to afford a soluble low band gap polymer. The DSG containing polymer shows a broader and more red-shifted absorption spectrum compared its thiophene analogue. Polymer solar cells are fabricated from blends with PC71BM exhibiting initial power conversion efficiencies of 5.2% in inverted bulk heterojunction solar cells.

Graphical abstract: Diselenogermole as a novel donor monomer for low band gap polymers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Oct 2014
Accepted
25 Nov 2014
First published
08 Dec 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 1986-1994

Author version available

Diselenogermole as a novel donor monomer for low band gap polymers

Z. Fei, R. S. Ashraf, Y. Han, S. Wang, C. P. Yau, P. S. Tuladhar, T. D. Anthopoulos, M. L. Chabinyc and M. Heeney, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 1986 DOI: 10.1039/C4TA05703A

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