Synthesis of disilanylene polymers with donor–acceptor-type π-conjugated units and applications to dye-sensitized solar cells

New donor–acceptor type organosilicon polymers were synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira-coupling reactions of tetrabutyldiethynyldisilane and bis(iodothienyl)benzothiadiazoles. Treatment of the polymers with TiO2 electrodes in chloroform under photochemical or thermal conditions gave the polymer-attached TiO2 electrodes, which were applied to dye-sensitized solar cells with the maximum power conversion efficiency of 0.26%. Hybridization of the polymers with single-walled carbon nanotube was also examined in an attempt to improve the cell performance.