Synthesis of conjugated polymers with complex architecture for photovoltaic applications

A common approach to bulk heterojunction solar cells involves a “trialand- error” approach in finding optimal kinetically unstable morphologies. An alternative approach assumes the utilization of complex polymer architectures, such as donor–acceptor block copolymers. Because of a covalent preorganization of the donor and acceptor components, these materials may form desirable morphologies at thermodynamic equilibrium.

This chapter reviews synthetic approaches to such architectures and shows the first photovoltaic results.