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Low bandgap semiconducting polymers for polymeric photovoltaics
Chang Liu1, Kai Wang1, Xiong Gong1
1College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, Department of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA. xgong@uakron.edu.
Chemical Society Reviews
|November 10, 2015
Summary
Developing high-performance polymer solar cells (PSCs) and ultrasensitive photodetectors (PDs) requires designing low-bandgap (LBG) semiconducting polymers. Key strategies include optimizing electronic properties, broadening spectral absorption from UV to NIR, and enhancing charge carrier mobility for efficient energy conversion and sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
- Photovoltaics
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- High-performance polymer solar cells (PSCs) and ultrasensitive photodetectors (PDs) require efficient light harvesting across the solar spectrum (UV to NIR).
- Low-bandgap (LBG) semiconducting polymers are crucial for achieving broad spectral response and high photocurrents in these devices.
- Current LBG polymers face limitations in charge carrier mobility, impacting device response times.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review effective design rules for developing LBG semiconducting polymers with enhanced optical and electronic properties.
- To explore strategies for improving molar absorptivity, energy levels, charge carrier mobility, and solubility.
- To discuss advancements in LBG polymers for efficient PSCs and ultrasensitive broadband PDs.
Main Methods:
- Overview of five key design rules for LBG semiconducting polymers.
- Strategies include fused heterocycles, bridging groups, electron-withdrawing units, donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymerization, and 2D conjugation.
- Analysis of polymer properties such as bandgap (Eg), absorption spectra, and charge carrier mobility.
Main Results:
- LBG semiconducting polymers with high molar absorptivity, suitable energy levels, and high solubility are achievable through rational design.
- D-A copolymerization and 2D conjugation effectively narrow the bandgap (Eg), enabling broad UV-NIR absorption (down to 0.8 eV, 1450 nm).
- Polymers exhibit excellent electronic and optic properties, making them promising for efficient PSCs and ultrasensitive PDs.
Conclusions:
- Rational design of LBG semiconducting polymers is essential for high-performance PSCs and ultrasensitive broadband PDs.
- Achieving broad spectral response requires lowering the bandgap, while improving response time necessitates enhanced hole mobility.
- Further advancements in hole mobility are critical for realizing uncooled, ultrasensitive broadband polymer PDs.
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