Low-bandgap thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-polymers for high-performance solar cells with significantly enhanced photocurrents

Abstract

Low-bandgap thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-polymers with proximal and distal configurations were synthesized for polymer solar cells. Photovoltaic performance depends on the orientation of the fused thiophene subunits, which is related to the different semiconducting properties and phase separation. Without special device treatments, P3 showed power conversion efficiencies of up to 7.50% with the highest short-circuit current (J_sc = 18.2 mA cm⁻²) so far reported for TPD polymers.