Effect of synthesis temperature and alkoxy side chain length on molecular structure and photoelectrochemical properties of terthiophenes

the photoelectrochemical properties of the alkoxy-substituted terthiophenes poly(4,4"dimethoxy-3'-methyl-2,2':5',2" terthiophene) (pdm) and poly(4,4"dipentoxy-3'-methyl-2,2':5',2" terthiophene) (pdp) have been investigated in terms of the influence of side chain length. cyclic voltammetry and uv-vis experiments have suggested that the synthesis temperature affects the molecular organization in different ways and, thus it should not be used as a general rule. the more efficient light harvesting of pdm, results from its improved molecular π-stacking. due to its short side chain, pdm presents a large chain interaction, which favors electron hopping and the polymer conductivity.