摘要： The morphology and crystallinity of the polymers used to fabricate bulk heterojuction (BHJ) solar cells significantly influences the efficiency of the cells. We have used variable-temperature (VT) spectroscopy techniques, namely VT emission and VT resonance Raman spectroscopy (VT-RRS), to examine how the backbone linearity of a conducting polymer affects its electronic response to temperature and variations in solution behavior. We have studied two types of donor–acceptor polymers used in BHJ cells with differing backbone structures; they are poly-{5,6-bis(tetradecyloxy)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c]-1,2,5-thiadiazole} (PTBT) which has a curved and poly-{5,6-bis(tetradecyloxy)-4-(thieno[3,2-b]-thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c]-1,2,5-thiadiazole} (PTTBT) which has a linear chain structure. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations and resonance Raman spectra (RRS) of PTTBT revealed the presence of three electronic transitions, with character that varies between p to p*, mixed p to p*/charge transfer and pure charge transfer in nature. Emission spectra of PTTBT showed spectral changes at 650 and 710 nm with varied temperature ((cid:2)10 to 60 8C). Variable-temperature RRS was measured in resonance with the lowest and highest energy electronic transitions. The changes were interpreted using two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) analysis. PTTBT showed gradual shifts to lower wavenumbers of modes at around 1425, 1450 and 1500 cm(cid:2)1. For PTBT larger and more rapid spectral changes are observed at 1440 and 1460 cm(cid:2)1 consistent with greater variation in the electronic nature upon heating. Further study into the influence of polymer linearity on crystallinity and long range order was carried out using low-frequency Raman (LFR) to examine drop cast films under a variety of different conditions. LFR spectra showed that PTTBT has a band at 73 cm(cid:2)1. This is observed under a variety of film-forming conditions. PTBT does not show distinct low frequency modes, consistent with its low crystallinity.