Synthesis and characterization of an organic co-polymer for photovoltaic application

Harvesting energy directly from sunlight using photovoltaic technology is considered as being one of the most important ways to address growing global energy needs using a renewable resource. Polymeric solar cells (PSCs) are a promising alternative to silicon-based solar cell for producing clean and renewable energy thanks to light weight, mechanical flexibility, processability and low costs [1]. The most studied polymers are the 3-alkyl substituted polythiophenes, but they show limited efficiency and, to improve power conversion, the synthesis of new systems is required [2]. Co-polymers formed by ThienoThiophene Carboxylate (TTC) and DiThienoSilole (DTS) units are widely studied as Donor systems in Bulk Heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. In this presentation we report the synthesis of PSiTT (see the chemical structure) and it's characterization via UV-Vis-NIR, NMR Spectroscopy, IR, AFM and GPC.