Synthesis of C60-containing Polymers by Ring-opening Metathesis Co-polymerization of a C60-cyclopentadiene Cycloadduct and N-(cycloheptyl)-endo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide and their Application in a Photovoltaic Device

Abstract

A C60-cyclopentadiene cycloadduct and N-(cycloheptyl)-endo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide were utilized as co-monomers in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions to afford a series of polymers containing C60 in varying ratios. The polymerization reactions were catalyzed by the Grubbs second-generation ruthenium catalyst, and the co-polymers formed were investigated by spectroscopic and thermal techniques. The photovoltaic behavior of the new materials was studied by the construction of a simple sandwich-type photovoltaic cell. Under irradiation we concluded that the C60 in the copolymers simultaneously accelerated both the charge separation in the polymer and the charge recombination between the electrons in the TiO2 and the electrolyte.