Applications of Graphene Modified by Self-Assembled Monolayers

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are well-oriented molecular structures that are formed by the adsorption of an active site of a surfactant onto a substrate’s surface. Aromatic SAMs were used to modify anode/hole transport layer interface in order to achieve preferable barrier alignment and charge carrier injection from anode to an organic-based thin film material. Other functions of SAMs include current blocking layers or moisture penetration blocking layers, dipolar surface layers for enhanced charge injection, and modification of work function of a material such as graphene acting as a spacer to physically separate and electrically decouple it from the substrate. Additionally, SAM modification of graphene leads to its electronic passivation at layers’ edges, elimination of defects, and enhanced adhesion and stability. The surface modification with molecules capable of forming SAM is a fast, simple, low-cost, and effective technique for the development of novel materials especially for the production of electronic devices. The ability to modify its properties by SAM technique has opened up a wide range of applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices

Recent Progresses in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) can be regarded as a continuation of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) in terms of the sensitization phenomena that occurred in the functioning molecules. In 2012, a breakthrough propose has been made for the sensitization of PSCs, in which a solid‐state structure is offered as an equivalent sensitizer used in DSSC. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of those solid‐state cells reached about twofold of its initial value during the past several years. Immediately after, the researchers followed this propose worldwide. They have introduced an improved efficiency of as much as 20%, which was originally started from its initial value of 4%, just in 4 years. Thus, the new concept, solid perovskite molecules, has eliminated the need for the liquid electrolyte in DSSC while still carrying the advantages of organic solar cells (OSCs). Therefore, the distinctive material of PSC—the organometallic halide molecules (also known as OMH or organic‐inorganic trihalides)—inclined an unexpected reputation for solar cell (SC) researches. Hence, it seems that we will witness a new age for solar conversion devices depending on the recent hopeful progresses on PSCs. The high rate of photovoltaic (PV) conversion capacity in PSC is generally expressed by the basic properties possessed by the organic‐inorganic perovskite crystal, such as better optical properties and well diffused charges along huge distances during the charge transport. In addition, a low temperature processing is applicable during its production. Moreover, the perovskite layer provides a tunable band gap. Therefore, depending on better developments on designed molecules, PSC may gain extreme performances compared to the other competitors, such as OSC or DSSC devices. This chapter starts with a general discussion on the need for an affordable clean energy conversion device that is urgent for the future of humanity, due to publicly well‐known global warming issue. In Section 2, basic properties of PSC are mentioned together with their structure and working principles. Section 3 continues with an overview on organometallic perovskite molecules after a brief introductory history is presented. The absorption and band gap properties are also discussed. Since most perovskite materials need a hole transporting material (HTMs) within the PSC, the kinds of HTMs that are designed for PSCs are described in Section 3. The rendering of long‐term stabilization has special importance for PSCs since the instability issue remained idle in spite of those recent increased efficiency values attained by various research groups. Therefore, the stability issues are discussed in a separate part in Section 4. We finally close the chapter discussing the challenges and opportunities relying on the chapter content. We note that the recent investigations on PSCs have special importance for its large‐scale realization in order to make them ready for the photovoltaic industry of the future. Hence, there are various announced meetings focusing on its mass production due to the unexpected sharp rise of the perovskite efficiency in the last 6 years. Hence, all the new cutting‐edge scientific findings are also dealt with commercialization issues now, in order to attain the desired low cost fabrication, including the yield of high purity and the formation of smooth films during the continual manufacture of perovskite layers

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of a novel perylenediimide derivative

A novel symmetric 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid derivative (PDI1) dye based on thiophene donor group was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR. Cyclic Voltammetry analysis is performed to determine the energy levels of the perylene derivative. Optical characteristics were determined by visible absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. Spectral behavior and fluorescence quantum yield of PDI1 have been measured in different solvents. The dye exhibits high fluorescence quantum yield ( Φf: 0.94-0.99). But the quantum yield PDI1 is very low in the n-butanol solution ( Φf: 0.12). The photophysical properties have important implications for use in a variety of electroactive and photovoltaic applications. A photovoltaic device was fabricated with PDI1 as transporting material. The conversion efficiency for DSSC sensitized by PDI1 is 0.0065%. PDI1 exhibits electrochromic behavior by switching between neutral (red) and oxidized (blue) states. Electron transfer capacity of PDI to the TiO2 was investigated by incorporation of dye as sensitizer in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Soluble dye molecules are very important to prepare dye sensitized solar cell. Solubility was increased with thiophene group

Monodentate versus Bidentate Anchoring Groups in Self-Assembling Molecules (SAMs) for Robust p-i-n Perovskite Solar Cells

Current improvement in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been achieved by interface engineering and fine-tuning of charge-selective contacts. In this work, we report three novel molecules that can form self-assembled layers (SAMs) as an alternative to the most commonly used p-type contact material, PTAA. Two of these molecules have bidentate anchoring groups (MC-54 and MC-55), while the last one is monodentate (MC-45). Besides the PTAA comparison, we also compared those two types of molecules and their effect on the solar cell's performance. Devices fabricated with MC-54 and MC-55 showed a remarkable field factor (about 80%) and a better current density, leading to higher efficient solar cells in comparison to MC-45 and PTAA. Moreover, mono- and bidentate present higher stability and reproducibility in comparison to PTAA.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion Severo Ochoa Grant MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (CEX2019–000925-S). Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion PID2019–109389RB-I00. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2022-139866NB-I00 MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE. AGAUR 2021 SGR 01261. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (2214/A International Research Fellowship Programme−1059B141801399). Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Project-Based Mevlana Exchange Programme (MEV-2016–056).With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000917-S).Peer reviewe

A Novel High-Contrast Ratio Electrochromic Material from Spiro[cyclododecane-1,9 '-fluorene]bicarbazole

WOS: 000287258500002A novel electroactive spirocyclododecylfluorene monomer named 2,7-bis(carbazol-9-yl)-9,9'-spiro[cyclododecane- 1,9'-fluorene] (SFC) was synthesized and electrochemically polymerized to give a very stable multi-electrochromic polymer (poly-SFC). Two separate oxidation processes were observed for both SFC monomer and poly-SFC that carries two carbazole units. The polymeric film of poly-SFC was coated onto ITO/glass surface, and it shows different colors (transparent, yellowish green, green, and dark green) upon stepwise oxidations. An electrochromic device based on poly-SFC was assembled in the sandwich cell configuration of ITO/poly-SFC// gel electrolyte//PEDOT/ITO. Poly-SFC exhibits 90% of transparency at neutral state and a high contrast ratio (Delta T = 58% at 800 nm). This device constructed from it represents a response time of about 1 s, high coloration efficiency (1377 cm(2) C-1) and retained its performance by 96.4% even after 1000 cycles. Exhibiting high transparency at neutral state, reversible redox behavior, resistance to overoxidation, and especially high contrast ratio at near IR region can make poly-SFC be useful and promising candidate for electrochromic applications despite having a relatively slow response time. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 333-341, 2011State Planning Organization of Turkey (DPT); Ege University Research Funds OfficeEge University; Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [104T191]We acknowledge the supports from the State Planning Organization of Turkey (DPT) and Ege University Research Funds Office. S. Demic is also grateful to Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, project #: 104T191) for financial support. The authors acknowledge the efforts of Dr. B. F. M. de Waal and R. A. A. Bovee (Eindhoven University of Technology) for MALDI-TOF

The performance of OLEDs based on sorbitol doped PEDOT:PSS

WOS: 000300653700042We report the performance of OLED devices with a configuration of FTO/sorbitol-PEDOT:PSS (60 nm)/TPD (50 nm)/Alq(3) (40 nm)/Al (120 nm) and FrO/plain-PEDOT:PSS (60 nm)/TPD (50 nm)/Alq(3) (40 nm)/Al (120 nm) prepared from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) undoped (plain-PEDOT:PSS) and doped by a constant concentration 5% of sorbitol, respectively. The OLED devices were tested in terms of electrical and optical characteristics in order to investigate the effect of sorbitol doping and thermal annealing on PEDOT:PSS thin film on FTO. The device fabricated from sorbitol-PEDOT:PSS with thermal annealing showed the maximum luminance of 130 (cd m(-2)). The devices with sorbitol doping showed a lowering of the operating voltage from 6.5 down to 3 V. A constant luminous efficiency higher than 1.8 cd A(-1) was obtained in the range of current of 4-7 (mA/cm(2)) with doped sorbitol. Published by Elsevier B.V

Electrochemical and optical properties of novel donor-acceptor thiophene-perylene-thiophene polymers

WOS: 000254135200006In this study, donor-acceptor type thiophene-perylene-thiophene monomers were synthesized and polymerized by both oxidative polymerization using FeCl3 as catalyst and the electrochemical process. UV-vis, FTIR, H-1 NMR, and elemental analysis techniques were used for structural characterization. Thermal behaviors of these compounds were determined by using TGA system. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels and electrochemical and optical band gap values were calculated by using the results of cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis measurements, respectively. The number-average molecular weight (M-n), weight-average molecular weight (M-n), and polydispersity index (PDI) values of synthesized polymers were determined by size exclusion chromatography. Conductivity measurements of these polymers were carried out by electrometer by using a four-point probe technique. The conductivity was observed to be increased by iodine doping. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc