Photochemical stability of π-conjugated polymers for polymer solar cells: a rule of thumb

TLDR

The study compares the photochemical stability of diverse π‑conjugated polymers used in polymer solar cells. Materials were aged under simulated sunlight and ambient conditions while degradation was tracked by UV‑vis and IR spectroscopy. The analysis reveals how polymer chemical structure affects stability and proposes general structure‑stability rules.

Abstract

A comparative photochemical stability study of a wide range of π-conjugated polymers relevant to polymer solar cells is presented. The behavior of each material has been investigated under simulated sunlight (1 sun, 1000 W m−2, AM 1.5G) and ambient atmosphere. Degradation was monitored during ageing combining UV-visible and infrared spectroscopies. From the comparison of the collected data, the influence of the polymer chemical structure on its stability has been discussed. General rules relative to the polymer structure–stability relationship are proposed.