Single-strand and ladder-type polymeric acceptors based on regioisomerically-pure perylene diimides towards all-polymer solar cells

Abstract Since dibromo perylene diimides (DBPDIs) contain two isomers that are difficult to separate, isomeric effect on properties and applications of PDI polymers has been rarely studied. Few ladder-type polymers have been used in organic solar cells. Herein, single-strand polymers (PrPDIT) were synthesized by the polymerization of regioisomerically-pure 1,7-dibromo-PDIs (1,7-DBPDIs) and 2,5-bis(trimethylstannyl)thiophene. Furthermore, ladder-type polymers (FPrPDIT) were obtained by the highly efficient photo-induced cyclization of polymers PrPDIT. The effects of isomers and molecular weight on the absorption, electrochemistry, thermal stability, and photovoltaic application of polymers were studied. Pure 1,7-DBPDIs lead to polymers with molecular weight distribution as low as 1.08. These polymers with strong absorption in 300–700 nm, low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels around −4.0 eV and high thermal stability could be excellent electron acceptors. Regioisomerically-pure polymers demonstrate better photovoltaic performance than that of mixed ones. The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of all-polymer solar cells based on PrPDIT and FPrPDIT is up to 5.95% and 4.52% respectively.