Double cable polymers in solar cells

Chapter I provides general background on organic solar cells and conducting polymers. It reports the synthesis of two low band gap conducting polymers: poly[5,7bis-(3-octyl-thienophen-2-yl)-thieno{lcub}3,4-b{rcub}pyrazine] (PB3OTP) and Poly[4,7-(3-octyl Dithien-2-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole] (P3ODBT). Both polymers exhibit photovoltaic activity in bulk heterojunction solar cells when blended with fullerene derivatives. Polymer PB3OTP shows a remarkable harvesting of the solar spectra.; Chapter II reports the synthesis of the first soluble homoconjugated double cable polymer which is used as a compatibilizer between conducting polymers and fullerenes in bulk heterojunction solar cells. This polymer promotes fullerene networks formation and should lead to improvement of solar cell efficiency.; Chapter III reports the synthesis double cable polymers consisting of polythiophene tert-butyl esters and aminofullerene derivatives, which can become oppositely charged or form amide bonds by thermal deprotection. These double cable polymers could be used to improve the morphology of solar cell devices.