Synthesis of C 60 -containing polymers by ring-opening metathesis co-polymerization of a C 60 -cyclopentadiene cycloadduct and N -(cycloheptyl)- endo -norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide and their application in a photovoltaic device

A C-60-cyclopentadiene cycloadduct and N-(cycloheptyl)-endo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide were utilized as co-monomers in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions to afford a series of polymers containing C-60 in varying ratios. The polymerization reactions were catalyzed by the Grubbs second-generation ruthenium catalyst, and the co-polymers formed were investigated by spectroscopic and thermal techniques. The photovoltaic behavior of the new materials was studied by the construction of a simple sandwich-type photovoltaic cell. Under irradiation we concluded that the C-60 in the copolymers simultaneously accelerated both the charge separation in the polymer and the charge recombination between the electrons in the TiO2 and the electrolyte.