Synthesis and Characterization of a Thiophene Copolymer for Photovoltaic Application

Abstract

A soluble thiophene copolymer having polar and non polar side groups was synthesized and its photovoltaics performance was investigated. The synthesized copolymer was characterized using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and optical spectroscopy. Dye sensitized solar cells were fabricated using this copolymer as sensitizer. An open-circuit voltage of 0.50V, a short-circuit current density of 1.195 mA/cm² and an overall power conversion efficiency of 0.3% were measured.

Keywords:

• Polythiophene copolymer
• photovoltaics cells
• dye sensitized solar cells

Acknowledgments

Financial support from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center and NSF is gratefully acknowledged.

Dedicated to the memory of Professor Sukant K. Tripathy.