Anthracene‐ and Thiophene‐Containing Poly(<i>p</i>‐arylene‐ethynylene)/poly(<i>p</i>‐arylene‐vinylene)s: Towards Optimized Structures for Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract Summary: Anthracene‐ and thiophene‐containing PPE‐PPV systems, bearing asymmetric alkoxy side chains, which are presumed to ensure optimal interfacial contact with PCBM([6,6]‐phenyl C 61 butyric acid methyl ester) in bulk heterojunction solar cells, have been synthesized and characterized. The polymers exhibit high molecular weights with polydispersity indices around 2. The effect of the position of the aromatic rings on their photophysical properties was found to be very pronounced in the case of the anthracene‐containing polymers, but less significant in the case of the thiophene‐containing counterparts.