57 research outputs found
Molecular design of interfacial layers based on conjugated polythiophenes for polymer and hybrid solar cells
© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry In the past two decades, bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices have emerged as attractive candidates for solar energy conversion due to their lightweight design and potential for low-cost, high-throughput, solution-phase processability. Interfacial engineering is a proven efficient approach to achieve OPV devices with high power conversion efficiencies. This mini-review provides an overview of the key structural considerations necessary when undertaking the molecular design of conjugated polyelectrolytes, for application as interfacial layers (ILs). The different roles of ILs are outlined, together with the advantages and disadvantages of competing classes of IL materials. Particular emphasis is placed on the design and synthesis of water-soluble polythiophene-based IL materials and the influence of their structural characteristics on their performance as a promising class of IL material. Finally, the challenges and opportunities for polythiophenes as IL materials for OPV devices and other solution-processed solar cell technologies (e.g. perovskite solar cells) are discussed. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
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Phosphonium-based polythiophene conjugated polyelectrolytes with different surfactant counterions: thermal properties, self-assembly and photovoltaic performances
© 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry Phosphonium-based polythiophene conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with three different counterions (dodecylsulfate, octylsulfate and perfluorooctane sulfonate) are synthesized to determine how the nature of the counterion affects the thermal properties, the self-assembly in thin films and the performance as the cathode interfacial layer in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The counterion has a significant effect on the thermal properties of the CPEs, affecting both their glass transition and crystalline behaviour. Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering studies also indicate that changing the nature of the counterion influences the microstructural organization in thin films (face-on versus edge-on orientation). The affinity of the CPEs with the underlying photoactive layer in PSCs is highly correlated with the counterion species. Finally, in addition to an increase of the power conversion efficiency of ca 15% when using these CPEs as cathode interfacial layers in PSCs, a higher device stability is noted, compared to a reference device with a calcium interlayer. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry
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Self-assembled conjugated polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes as efficient cathode interlayer materials for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells
Conjugated polyelectrolyte–surfactant cathodic interface layers lead to improved power conversion efficiencies in organic solar cells.</p
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All-conjugated cationic copolythiophene "rod-rod" block copolyelectrolytes: Synthesis, optical properties and solvent-dependent assembly
The optical and thermal properties and solvent-dependent assembly of all-conjugated cationic copolythiophene block copolyelectrolytes are investigated.</p
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Application Of The LVS Subsurface Probe On The LUVMI Rover For A LUNAR Volatiles Exploration Mission
We present the latest iteration of the Lunar Volatiles Scout (LVS), a novel instrument to access and characterise lunar volatiles insitu. The LVS is currently being developed in a cooperation between Technical University of Munich (TUM) and OHB System as part of the Lunar Volatiles Mobile Instrument (LUVMI)study, conducted in the frame of the EU Horizon 2020 initiative and led by the Belgian company Space Applications Services.
LUVMI aims to develop a comprehensive light-weight(20-40 kg)rover for investigations on volatiles in and around permanently shadowed regions on the Moon. The platform is envisioned as a possible secondary payload to one of the currently planned missions to the lunar poles. It features an active chassis with four independently steerable wheels, an innovative light-field camera, the Volatiles Sampler (represented by the LVS), and the Volatiles Analyser (miniature mass spectrometer)
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