7 research outputs found
A One-Step Strategy for End-Functionalized Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Polymers
A modular and robust method for preparing end-functionalized donor–acceptor (D–A) narrow bandgap conjugated polymers is reported that avoids multistep reactions and postpolymerization modification. The strategy is well-controlled and affords functional materials with predictable molecular weight and high end-group fidelity. To exemplify this synthetic strategy, narrow bandgap conjugated polymers based on PDPP2FT were prepared that contain perylene diimide (PDI) units at the chain-ends. Monte Carlo simulations confirm the high degree of chain-end functionalization while photoluminescence studies reveal the unique photophysical properties of the end-functional polymers with efficient charge transfer occurring between the main polymer chain and PDI end-groups that results exclusively from their covalent linkage
A One-Step Strategy for End-Functionalized Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Polymers
A modular and robust method for preparing end-functionalized donor–acceptor (D–A) narrow bandgap conjugated polymers is reported that avoids multistep reactions and postpolymerization modification. The strategy is well-controlled and affords functional materials with predictable molecular weight and high end-group fidelity. To exemplify this synthetic strategy, narrow bandgap conjugated polymers based on PDPP2FT were prepared that contain perylene diimide (PDI) units at the chain-ends. Monte Carlo simulations confirm the high degree of chain-end functionalization while photoluminescence studies reveal the unique photophysical properties of the end-functional polymers with efficient charge transfer occurring between the main polymer chain and PDI end-groups that results exclusively from their covalent linkage
Energy Transfer Directly to Bilayer Interfaces to Improve Exciton Collection in Organic Photovoltaics
Ternary blends and energy cascades
are gaining popularity as ways
to engineer absorption as well as exciton and charge collection in
organic solar cells. Here, we use kinetic Monte Carlo simulations
to investigate energy cascade designs for improving exciton collection
in bilayer solar cells via a Förster energy transfer mechanism.
We determine that an interfacial monolayer (C) between the donor and
acceptor with a D → A → C energy cascade will lead to
good exciton collection, allowing for >90% collection, even for
energy
donor layers up to 75 nm thick. We further examine how roughening
the interface, increasing the exciton diffusion length, and using
other energy cascade designs affect the enhancement from the energy
transfer. We also propose using the inherent charge transfer states
at the interfaces as energy acceptors and estimate that the Förster
radius could be as large as 3.4 nm, leading to nearly 70% improvement
in exciton collection, without the need for a third material
A One-Step Strategy for End-Functionalized Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Polymers
A modular and robust method for preparing
end-functionalized donor–acceptor
(D–A) narrow bandgap conjugated polymers is reported that avoids
multistep reactions and postpolymerization modification. The strategy
is well-controlled and affords functional materials with predictable
molecular weight and high end-group fidelity. To exemplify this synthetic
strategy, narrow bandgap conjugated polymers based on PDPP2FT were
prepared that contain perylene diimide (PDI) units at the chain-ends.
Monte Carlo simulations confirm the high degree of chain-end functionalization
while photoluminescence studies reveal the unique photophysical properties
of the end-functional polymers with efficient charge transfer occurring
between the main polymer chain and PDI end-groups that results exclusively
from their covalent linkage
Effect of Bridging Atom Identity on the Morphological Behavior of Solution-Processed Small Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaics
We examined the effects of changing
the central bridging atom identity
from carbon (d-CDTÂ(PTTh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) to silicon (d-DTSÂ(PTTh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) in the cyclopentadithiophene unit in a small
molecule donor material. The substitution left the optical and electrical
properties largely unchanged but significantly modified the melting/crystallization
behavior and the formation of crystalline domains in thin film blends
with PC<sub>71</sub>BM. Solar cells made with the d-CDTÂ(PTTh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>:PC<sub>71</sub>BM had efficiencies less than 1%, while
thermally annealed solar cells made with d-DTSÂ(PTTh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>:PC<sub>71</sub>BM achieved efficiencies up to 3.4%. Morphological
analyses of the active layer film morphology were done with polarized
optical microscopy, grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering,
and transmission electron microscopy and showed that large (micrometer
scale) crystals formed in the d-CDTÂ(PTTh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> based
films while smaller (25 to 50 nm) crystals formed in the d-DTSÂ(PTTh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>, largely explaining the difference in device
performance. Thermally activated photocurrent was observed in devices
suggest that the additional current at elevated temperatures results
from thermally activated charge generation. Charge transfer excitons
were also investigated using external quantum efficiency measurements.
Sharper band tails for the small molecule donors suggest less disorder
than in P3HT:PCBM and other polymer systems