A soluble donor-acceptor double-cable polymer: Polythiophene with pendant fullerenes

We report the synthesis and the spectroscopic properties of a novel soluble thiophene-based copolymer carrying pendant fullerene moieties (donor–acceptor double-cable polymer). Photoinduced absorption experiments on spin cast films reveal a photoinduced electron transfer from the polythiophene chain onto the fullerene moieties. The performance of photovoltaic devices produced with this copolymer is also discussed.