Poly(thienylenevinylene) prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization: Performance as a donor in bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices

Poly(3,4-dioctylthienylenevinylene) (PDOTV) was synthesised by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with controlled molecular weight. PDOTV has been used to fabricate organic photovoltaic devices in combination with phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) for the first time. The devices show power conversion efficiency up to 0.18%. Optimal device performance was found at a film thickness of 100 nm and a ratio of PCBM to PTV of 2:1. External quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements, transient absorption spectroscopy and morphology studies were carried out to establish factors governing photovoltaic performance. These results suggest that the efficiency values for the devices were limited by the hole mobility and unexpected phase separation within the blend. Nevertheless, the results show that ROMP is a viable, alternative, synthetic strategy for preparing PTV donors for use in bulk heterojunction OPVs.