Fuelling the Future with PTB and PCBM

摘要

The chemistry of carbon continues to domi nate the current Hot Ten, mainly in the form of carbenes, but one entrant, at #5, is con cerned with putting the element to use in the form of polymeric semiconductors. These have the necessary chemistry for organic pho tovoltaic (OPV) materials for use in solar cells. They require both an electron-rich polymer and an electron-deficient fulleride. Poly (3-hexylthiophene) has proved suitable as the polymer, and this in combination with a C61 fulleride derivative can deliver an energy con version of 5%.