Benzotriazole Based 2D-conjugated Polymer Donors for High Performance Polymer Solar Cells

Abstract

To design high efficiency polymer solar cells (PSCs), it is of great importance to develop suitable polymer donors that work well with the low bandgap acceptors, providing complementary absorption, forming interpenetrating networks in the active layers and minimizing energy loss. Recently, we developed a series of two-dimension-conjugated polymers based on bithienylbenzodithiophene-alt-benzotriazole backbone bearing different conjugated side chains, generally called J-series polymers. They are medium energy bandgap (Eg) polymers (Eg of ca. 1.80 eV) with strong absorptions in the range of 400–650 nm, and exhibit ordered crystalline structures, high hole mobilities, and more interestingly, tunable energy levels depending on the structure variations. In this feature article, we highlight our recent efforts on the design and synthesis of those J-series polymer donors, including an introduction on the polymer design strategy and emphasis on the crucial function of differential conjugated side chain. Finally, the future opportunities and challenges of the J-series polymers in PSCs are discussed.