Abstract
A copolymer of hydrochloric acid doped o-anthranilic acid with o-aminophenol (PAAOAP) was prepared in a highly acidic medium based on the oxidative polymerization in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG 200) as a soft template by ferric chloride initiator. The resulting doped hydrochloric acid copolymer (PAAOAP) was characterized by several techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometer. A PAAOAP thin film was prepared by spin coating technique with a thickness of 200 ± 3 nm. By applying the specific fabrication conditions summarized in the synthesis of polymer solar cell part and post-production annealing at 323 k, the polymer solar cells were established with a power-conversion efficiency of 8.23%. Interesting thermal stability was studied for these devices. To improve the performance of heterojunction diodes, specific thermal annealing was employed. As a result, the conducting polymer crystallinity and nanoscale morphology were significantly enhanced resulting in improving the collection of charges at the electrode. By this way, the device efficiency was increased by reducing the series resistance of the polymer solar cells.
•Copolymer PAAOAP was synthesized by using FeCl3 in acidic medium.•The resulting PAAOAP was characterized by several techniques.•A PAAOAP thin film was prepared by spin coating technique with a thickness of 200 nm.•Optical properties of the thin film were investigated.•Polymer solar cell (Au/PAAOAP/P-Si/Al) was established with a PCE of 8.23%.