Synthesis of Graft Copolymers and Their Preliminary Use as a Compatibilizer in Polymer Solar Cells

• Main Authors: Narumon Seeponkai, Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan, Chanchana Thanachayanont, Sombat Thanawan, Siriwat Radabutra, Surawut Chuangchote
• Other Authors: King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi
• Format: Article
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Materials Science
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/33569
• Institution: Mahidol University

Poly(p-xylylene)-graft-poly(butylacrylate-g-fullerene) or PPX-g-PBAFu was synthesized by using Wessling route and atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) techniques. The graft copolymers were used as a compatibilizer in the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and fullerene (C60). The results from AFM micrographs showed that the phase size of P3HT and the aggregated C60 in the blended system was decreased from 300 to 30 nm after adding the copolymer (20 pph). Furthermore, the efficiencies of the BHJ cells from J-V curve were remarkably increased five times after adding the copolymer. © 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.