Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives with two triphenylamine and bithiophene conjugated side chains

Two soluble poly(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives (PPVs) with two bithiophenes as conjugated side chains, P1 and P2, were synthesized and characterized for application in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the PPVs were investigated and compared with those of the PPVs without conjugated side chains. Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices are fabricated using the copolymers as the electron donor and PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) as the electron acceptor. The power conversion efficiencies (η) based on the P1 and P2 are 1.1% and 1.41% under AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm2), respectively.