Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
5 years ago

Synthesis and Characterization of Isoindigo-Based Polymers with Thermocleavable Side Chains

Synthesis and Characterization of Isoindigo-Based Polymers with Thermocleavable Side Chains
Xiaofeng Xu, Kim Bini, Ergang Wang, Mats R. Andersson
Stability of bulk heterojunction films for organic solar cells is a critical factor for commercial viability. One method to stabilize these films is to include cleavable side chains, which reduce the solubility of the polymers when removed. In order to study the stabilizing effect of cleavable side chains, a series of random copolymers using isoindigo with 0, 10, 20, 50, and 100% thermally cleavable side chains based on the tert-butyloxycarbonyl (t-BOC) group are synthesized. The polymers show a distinct one-step thermal cleavage of the side chains, with no separable dealkylation and decarboxylation steps. The thermal stability in film is studied with transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The polymer with all t-BOC side chains on isoindigo significantly improves thermal stability with regard to crystal growth and phase separation in film. These results suggest BOC-substitution can be used for large scale processing to produce insoluble polymer films with a high degree of thermal stability. A series of donor–acceptor random copolymers bearing thermocleavable side chains is synthesized and characterized. The isoindigo-based polymers undergo a one-step thermal degradation corresponding to cleavage of the side chains below 200 °C. The effect on thermal stability in blend films with PC61BM is investigated using transmission electron microscopy and significant stabilization of the morphology is found.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/macp.201700538

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