Controlled synthesis of well-defined semiconducting brush polymers

Abstract

Well-defined semiconducting bottlebrush polymers are prepared using controlled polymerization methods. The electron donor semiconductor poly(3-hexylthiophene), P3HT, is synthesized using Grignard metathesis polymerization. With appropriate norbornene end caps, the P3HT macromonomers are used to form the bottlebrush material via ring opening metathesis polymerization. The bottlebrush polymers are characterized and compared with linear P3HT materials, as well as high-molecular-weight commercial P3HT. It is found that longer polythiophene chains impart better semiconducting properties resulting in higher solar-cell device performance. Well-defined polythiophene-based bottlebrush polymers are pr..