Polythiophenes Comprising Conjugated Pendants for Polymer Solar Cells: A Review

Abstract

Polythiophene (PT) is one of the widely used donor materials for solution-processable polymer solar cells (PSCs). Much progress in PT-based PSCs can be attributed to the design of novel PTs exhibiting intense and broad visible absorption with high charge carrier mobility to increase short-circuit current density (Jsc), along with low-lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels to achieve large open circuit voltage (Voc) values. A promising strategy to tailor the photophysical properties and energy levels via covalently attaching electron donor and acceptor pendants on PTs backbone has attracted much attention recently. The geometry, electron-donating capacity, and composition of conjugated pendants are supposed to be the crucial factors in adjusting the conformation, energy levels, and photovoltaic performance of PTs. This review will go over the most recent approaches that enable researchers to obtain in-depth information in the development of PTs comprising conjugated pendants for PSCs.

Highly dendritic polythiophene/silver (PT/Ag) nanocomposite for solar energy applications

“…The Key parameters of the formed BHJSC under study have been determined accordingly where I sc = 15.61 mA/cm 2 , V oc = 1.23 V and FF = 0.74. Maximum PCE up to 14.2% was obtained which is much more higher compared to reference PT based solar cells [44][45][46][47][48][49][50].…”

“…Numerous approaches have been explored to increase the PCE for OSCs such as synthesis of new materials, architectures, buffer layers and deposition methods [10,11]. Conjugated polymers are one class of materials with highly-extended Π-electron systems in their main chains and are considered of great interest due to their unique electronic properties and their potential technological applications especially in solar cell applications [12][13][14].…”

Recent developments in the synthesis of regioregular thiophene-based conjugated polymers for electronic and optoelectronic applications using nickel and palladium-based catalytic systems

“…61 Unfortunately, the main problem with P3HT is its high HOMO level and large optical band gap (E opt g $ 1.9 eV) which causes inadequate absorption in visible region and poor V oc values of fabricated devices. 53,[62][63][64] Several synthetic strategies have been developed to address these drawbacks including introduction of conjugated side chains as substituents on the polymer main chain, [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74] synthesis of fused and rigid planar rings to stabilize the quinoid resonance structure [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89] and construction of the backbone consisting of electron donating thiophene units alternated with some electron withdrawing unit to develop donor-acceptor type polymers. [80][81][82][83][84]…”

Electrochemical Engineering in the Core of the Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)

“…Pt is employed frequently as a CE since it depicts more important performances [38]; however, substituting Pt was much requested thanks to its higher cost and less abundance [1]. Then, numerous trials have realized to substitute Pt in DSSCs, like carbon [39], carbonylsulfide (CoS) [40], Au/GNP [15], alloy CEs like FeSe [41], and CoNi 0.25 [42], even if the various kinds of the CEs are also reviewed by Jihuai Wu et al [14]. Table 2.…”