A Nature-Inspired Conjugated Polymer for High Performance Transistors and Solar Cells

Abstract

A novel, highly soluble chromophore for use in organic electronics based on an indigoid structure is reported. Copolymerization with thiophene affords an extremely narrow band gap polymer with a maximum absorption at ∼800 nm. The novel polymer exhibits high crystallinity and high ambipolar transport in OFET devices of 0.23 cm2 V–1 s–1 for holes and 0.48 cm2 V–1 s–1 for electrons. OPV device efficiencies up to 2.35% with light absorbance up to 950 nm demonstrate the potential for this novel chromophore in near-IR photovoltaics.