Bandgap-Tuning in Triple-Chalcogenophene Polymer Films by Thermal Annealing

The authors study adjustable bandgap properties of the novel triple chalcogenophene-based polymer poly-(3-hexyl-2(3-(4-hexylthiophene-2-yl)-4,5-butylselenophene-1-yl)-5-(4,5-butyltellurophene-1-yl)thiophene) through a combination of morphological, spectroscopic, and computational techniques. The bandgap can be tuned after polymerization by means of mild temperature annealing, which will allow for a partnership with a broader range of donor/acceptor molecules, a property that makes it potentially suitable for organic photovoltaic implementation. The bandgap is modified by selection of the annealing temperatures, and the process is arguably related to the aggregation of tellurophene units, as similar effects are observed in polytellurophenes. Moreover, adequate chemistry engineering ensures easy solution processability and attainment of homogeneous films, which is also essential for applications.