Systematic Analysis of Polymer Molecular Weight Influence on the Organic Photovoltaic Performance

The molecular weight of an electron donor-conjugated polymer is as essential as other well-known parameters in the chemical structure of the polymer, such as length and the nature of any side groups (alkyl chains) positioned on the polymeric backbone, as well as their placement, relative strength, the ratio of the donor and acceptor moieties in the backbone of donor-acceptor (D-A)-conjugated polymers, and the arrangement of their energy levels for organic photovoltaic performance. Finding the "optimal" molecular weight for a specific conjugated polymer is an important aspect for the development of novel photovoltaic polymers. Therefore, it is evident that the chemistry of functional conjugated polymers faces major challenges and materials have to adopt a broad range of specifications in order to be established for high photovoltaic performance. In this review, the approaches followed for enhancing the molecular weight of electron-donor polymers are presented in detail, as well as how this influences the optoelectronic properties, charge transport properties, structural conformation, morphology, and the photovoltaic performance of the active layer. Approaches followed for enhancing the molecular weight of the electron donor polymers and how this influences their optoelectronic properties, charge transport properties, structural conformation, morphology, and the photovoltaic performance of the active layer are analyzed and presented in detail. © 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.