Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based acceptor polymers for photovoltaic application

Developing new acceptor materials as alternatives to fullerene acceptors remains a challenge in the field of organic photovoltaics. We report on the synthesis and optoelectronic properties of three acceptor polymers bearing diketopyrrolopyrrole units in the main chain (PA, PB and PC). Their performance as the acceptor material in bulk heterojunction solar cells using P3HT as the donor material has been tested. The solar cells show relatively high open-circuit voltages (=0.9 V) but low fill factors and short-circuit current densities limit the photovoltaic device performance. Formation of free charge carriers and low electron mobility are identified as the major obstacles. In blends of P3HT with PA or PB charge formation is limited, while for the P3HT:PC blend photogenerated charges recombine into the PC triplet state before they can separate, unless assisted by a reverse electric field.