Performance characteristics of polymer photovoltaic solar cells with an additive-incorporated active layer

We have investigated the performance characteristics of bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester by adding 1,8-octanedithiol as a processing agent in an active layer. The effects of the additive, 1,8-octanedithiol, on the device performance parameter characteristics have been discussed. The current density-voltage measurements, UV-Vis absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction spectra, and scanning probe microscope images have been used to discuss the performance characteristics of polymer solar cells

Effects of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS as a hole-conducting layer on the performance characteristics of polymer photovoltaic cells

We have investigated the effect of pentacene-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly(4-styrenesulfonate) [PEDOT:PSS] films as a hole-conducting layer on the performance of polymer photovoltaic cells. By increasing the amount of pentacene and the annealing temperature of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS layer, the changes of performance characteristics were evaluated. Pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS thin films were prepared by dissolving pentacene in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone solvent and mixing with PEDOT:PSS. As the amount of pentacene in the PEDOT:PSS solution was increased, UV-visible transmittance also increased dramatically. By increasing the amount of pentacene in PEDOT:PSS films, dramatic decreases in both the work function and surface resistance were observed. However, the work function and surface resistance began to sharply increase above the doping amount of pentacene at 7.7 and 9.9 mg, respectively. As the annealing temperature was increased, the surface roughness of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS films also increased, leading to the formation of PEDOT:PSS aggregates. The films of pentacene-doped PEDOT:PSS were characterized by AFM, SEM, UV-visible transmittance, surface analyzer, surface resistance, and photovoltaic response analysis

Influence of Maleinized Polybutadiene on Adhesive Strength and Toughness of Epoxy Resins

This study explored the effect of maleinized polybutadiene (MPB) on the mechanical properties of epoxy resins. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A, an epoxy resin, was modified by incorporating MPB having different molecular weights in order to improve the fracture toughness and peel strength. MPB was mixed with epoxy resin at several concentrations (5, 10, and 15 phr), with the epoxy resin as the major phase and MPB as the minor phase. A comparative study was performed to investigate the influence of MPB on epoxy resins based on their molecular weight difference. Lap shear test results showed that the shear strength of the MPB-modified epoxy resins was superior to that of the neat epoxy resin. At 10 wt% MPB loading, the modified epoxy resin exhibited an 87% enhancement in T-peel strength relative to that of the neat epoxy resin. Moreover, the fracture energy of the modified epoxy system increased proportionally with the amount of MPB in the epoxy matrix. These results indicate that MPB incorporation is a simple and effective method for designing multifunctional epoxy resins, thus facilitating their industrial application in various spheres

Catalytic Performance of CPM-200-In/Mg in the Cycloaddition of CO2 and Epoxides

Crystalline porous materials (CPM)-200-In and CPM-200-In/Mg metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized by a solvothermal method and were characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), FT-IR, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), TGA, XPS, and SEM-EDS. They were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides and found to be highly efficient toward the cycloaddition reaction at moderate reaction conditions under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst was easily separated by a simple filtration and can be reused up to five consecutive times without any considerable decrease of its initial activity. CPM-200-In/Mg showed excellent catalytic performance in the cycloaddition reaction due to the synergistic role of the acidic sites and basic sites. A plausible reaction mechanism for the CPM-200-In/Mg MOF catalyzed cycloaddition reaction is proposed based on the experimental results and our previously reported DFT (Density Functional Theory) studies