Enhanced photoresponse from the ordered microstructure of naphthalocyanine-carbon nanotube composite film

Naphthalocyanine-sensitized multi-walled carbon nanotube (NaPc-MWNT) composites have been synthesized through the pi-stacking between naphthalocyanine (NaPc) and carbon nanotubes. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and by UV - vis absorption and photocurrent spectra. The long-range ordering was observed in the NaPc - MWNT composites by using a TEM. The enhancement in the absorption intensity and the broadening of the absorption wavelength observed in the composite films, which were due to the attachment of NaPc on the MWNT surface, is discussed based on the measured UV - vis absorption spectra. Furthermore, the photoconductivity of the poly( 3-hexylthiophene)(PAT6) - NaPc - MWNT composite film was found to increase remarkably in the visible region and broaden towards the red regions. These new phenomena were ascribed to the larger donor/acceptor (D/A) interface and the formation of a biconsecutive D/A network structure, as discussed in consideration of the photoinduced charge transfer between PAT6 and NaPc - MWNT.

Broadband short-range surface plasmon structures for absorption enhancement in organic photovoltaics

We theoretically demonstrate a polarization-independent nanopatterned ultra-thin metallic structure supporting short-range surface plasmon polariton (SRSPP) modes to improve the performance of organic solar cells. The physical mechanism and the mode distribution of the SRSPP excited in the cell device were analyzed, and reveal that the SRSPP-assisted broadband absorption enhancement peak could be tuned by tailoring the parameters of the nanopatterned metallic structure. Three-dimensional finite-difference time domain calculations show that this plasmonic structure can enhance the optical absorption of polymer-based photovoltaics by 39% to 112%, depending on the nature of the active layer (corresponding to an enhancement in short-circuit current density by 47% to 130%). These results are promising for the design of organic photovoltaics with enhanced performance.

Improving performance of polymer photovoltaic devices using an annealing-free approach via construction of ordered aggregates in solution

Low crystalline order has been proved to be one of the main hindrances for achieving high performance devices based on thin films composed of crystallizable polymer. In this work, we use a facile method to substantially improve crystallinity of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in its pure or composite film via the construction of ordered precursors in the solution used for thin film deposition. These improvements have been confirmed by bright-field transmission electron micrography, electron diffraction, UV-Vis absorption and wide-angle X-ray diffraction.

Epitaxy-Assisted Creation of PCBM Nanocrystals and Its Application in Constructing Optimized Morphology for Bulk-Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells

PCBM (a C-60 derivative) is so far the most successful electron acceptor for bulk-heterojunction polymer photovoltaic (PV) cells. Here we present a novel method epitaxy-assisted creation of PCBM nanocrystals and their homogeneous distribution in the matrix using freshly cleaved mica sheet as the substrate. The highly matched epitaxy relationship between the unit cell of PCBM crystal and crystallographic (001) surface of mica induces abundant PCBM nuclei, which subsequently develop into nanoscale crystals with homogeneous dispersion in the composite film.

Effects of thermal annealing on polymer photovoltaic cells with buffer layers and in situ formation of interfacial layer for enhancing power conversion efficiency

We have investigated the effects of thermal annealing before and after cathode deposition on poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend photovoltaic cells with different cathode buffer layers. The introduction of cathode buffer layer such as lithium fluoride (LiF) and calcium oxide (CaO) in pre-annealing cells can increase the open-circuit voltage (V-oc) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). Post thermal annealing after cathode deposition further enhanced the PCE of the cells with LiF/Al cathode.

Enhanced charge collection in polymer photovoltaic cells by using an ethanol-soluble conjugated polyfluorene as cathode buffer layer

We report enhanced polymer photovoltaic (PV) cells by utilizing ethanol-soluble conjugated poly (9, 9-bis (6'-diethoxylphosphorylhexyl) fluorene) (PF-EP) as a buffer layer between the active layer consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester blend and the Al cathode. Compared to the control PV cell with Al cathode, the introduction of PF-EP effectively increases the shunt resistance and improves the photo-generated charge collection since the slightly thicker semi-conducting PF-EP layer may restrain the penetration of Al atoms into the active layer that may result in increased leakage current and quench photo-generated excitons. The power conversion efficiency is increased ca. 8% compared to the post-annealed cell with Al cathode.

Synthesis and characterization of novel polythiophenes containing poly(ethylene oxide) side chains

Thiophene copolymers and their derivatives with poly(ethylene oxide) side chains were synthesized. The starting monomers were 3-hexylthiophene and 2-(3-thienyl) ethanol with poly(ethylene oxide) grafted to the side chains. New functionalized polythiophenes were prepared by both chemical oxidation with FeCl3 and electropolymerization. The conjugating polymers were characterized. The structures of the polythiophene derivatives agreed with the design.

聚3—羟基丁酸酯与聚丙撑碳酸酯共混体系研究

本论文对完全生物降解聚（3—羟基丁酸酯）（PHB）和聚丙撑碳酸酯（PPC）共混体系进行了全面研究，目的是提高PHB的综合性能，加深对共混高聚物的基本物理问题的认识，进一步明晰高聚物的结构和性能之间的关系.1.在分析判断PPC的热降解机理的基础上，对PPC进行了封端处理，阻止了以端羟基回咬“解拉链”方式引起的热降解，增加了PPC热降解反应活化能，显著地提高了PPC的稳定性（提高30K以上）.2.经热性能和形态结构等方面的表征，PHB/PPC共混体系为不相容体系，直接在PHB中加入PPC不能改善PHB的韧性和其它力学性能.3.PCL-PEG-PCL嵌段共聚物能够作为PHB/PPC的增容剂，在PHB/PPC共混体系中加入PCL-PEG-PCL三嵌段共聚物能显著减小分散相的平均尺寸.4.选用增塑剂对PPC进行增塑能够在很大范围内（80K）调节PPC的玻璃化转变温度，使PPC表现出弹性体的特性，拓宽了PPC的应用范围.5.增塑剂1,2丙二醇碳酸酯（PGC）对PHB有一定的增塑作用，但不能明显改善PHB的力学性能.6.增塑后的PPC是PHB的良好增韧剂，使PHB由脆性断裂转变为韧性断裂，最佳增韧效果可使PHB的抗冲击强度由36J/m增加到70PHB/30PPC/20PGC的307J/m，增加8倍.7.增塑后的PPC能够实现对PHB增韧，是增塑剂使得PPC在冲击实验条件下仍然保持弹性体的性质，由此引发空洞化、多重银纹和剪切屈服共存的增韧方式提高PHB的性能.

聚（3-羟基烷酸酯）的改性研究

该论文目的是改性细菌合成的聚(3-羟基丁酸酯)(PHB)及其共聚物(PHBV),采用交联或共混的方法,改变其聚集态结构或超分子结构,从而改善其力学性能.加深对高聚物结构与性能之间关系,高聚物结晶规律、及特殊相互作用在高聚物中作用的认识.1.采用反应性加工,用过氧化二异丙苯(DCP)引发PHBV的自由基链转移反应,产生了支化和交联的化学结构.2.用交联助剂二苯甲撑双马来酰亚胺(BMI)实现了PHBV的γ-辐射交联.交联的PHBV熔点和结晶度下降.3.双酚A(BPA)在PHBV/BPA共混物中起到了物理交联剂的作用.4.氢键交联结构使PHBV的链段运动受限,结晶速率下降.5.对叔丁基苯酚(TBP)在PHBV中形成了氢键接枝的超分子结构.6.经过溶液共混,BPA在PHB中起到了物理交联剂的作用,使PHB的断裂伸长率从3%提高到45%.8.二醋酸纤维素(CDA)与PHBV经溶液共混(混合溶剂氯仿/丙酮),PHBV的力学性能没有改善,原因可能是CDA-PHBV分子间的氢键作用较弱,组分间发生严重相分离,不利于性能提高.

聚3-羟基烷酸酯异相成核结晶的研究

本论文以具有巨大应用前景的PHBV作为研究对象，针对PHBV结晶速率低，易产生二次结晶，从而严重影响其加工性能和力学性能的稳定性等方面的缺点，根据PHBV的分子结构和脆性的机理分析，试图采用添加成核剂的方法，提高PHBV的结晶速率和结晶度，从而缩短PHBV的加工成型周期，控制其聚集态结构，提高其制品的稳定性，改善材料的物理力学性能。并在此基础上，探讨PHBV异相成核结晶的机理，加深成核剂对聚合物有效成核机理的认识，更好的理解聚合物结晶过程。1．添加成核剂的量达到0.5wt％时，对苯二甲酸（TPA）对PHBV起到了显著的结晶成核作用。结晶起始温度提高了约20℃，结晶速率达到最大值所对应的温度T_p提高了30℃，结晶烙增加了15J/g，结晶速率提高了4.4倍。这些数据表明，TPA是一种对PHBV极为有效的成核剂。2．加入成核剂TPA的PHBV表现出典型的双熔融行为，主要原因是TPA对PHBV的结晶成核作用和PHBV的熔融再结晶。低温侧的熔融峰对应着PHBV自熔体降温过程形成的结晶，高温侧的对应着PHBV升温过程中形成的结晶。3．TPA的成核作用大大的改变了PHBV的形态结构，使PHBV的球晶尺寸明显减小，球晶数量增大。4．TPA使PHBV晶体在（110）和（020）方向上微晶尺寸变大，晶区和非晶区的电子密度差增大。5．添加0.5wt％的TPA后，PHBV的断裂伸长率从4％提高到10％。6．TPA、IPA、淀粉和山梨醇对PHBV的结晶都具有很明显的成核作用，其原因可能是化学结构上都具有极性基团。7．红外光谱研究没有能够有效的给出PHBV与TPA是否存在特殊相互作用，从而导致TPA对PHBV的结晶成核作用的证据，但是，PHBV拨基伸缩振动谱带随温度的变化却给出了TPA对PHBv的结晶成核作用始于160℃高温。

White electroluminescence from a single-polymer system with simultaneous two-color emission: Polyfluorene as blue host and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives as orange dopants on the side chain

Four single polymers with two kinds of attachment of orange chromophore to blue polymer host for white electroluminescence (EL) were designed. The effect of the side-chain attachment and main-chain attachment on the EL efficiencies of the resulting polymers was compared. The side-chain-type single polymers are found to exhibit more efficient white EL than that of the main-chain-type single polymers. Based on the side-chain-type white single polymer with 4-(4-alkyloxy-phenyl)-7-(4-diphenylamino-phenyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles as the orange-dopant unit and polyfluorene as the blue polymer host, white EL with simultaneous orange (lambda(max) = 545 nm) and blue emission (lambda(max) = 432 nm/460 nm) is realised. A single-layer device (indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer/Ca/Al) made of these polymers emits white light with the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.30,0.40), possesses a turn-on voltage of 3.5 V, luminous efficiency of 10.66 cd A(-1), power efficiency of 6.68 lm W-1, and a maximum brightness of 21240 cd m(-2).

Effect of poly(propylene carbonate) on the crystallization and melting behavior of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-beta-hydroxyvalerate)

The crystallization and melting behavior of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-beta-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and a 30/70 (w/w) PHBV/poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) blend was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The transesterification reaction between PHBV and PPC was detected in the melt-blending process. The interaction between the two macromolecules was confirmed by means of FTIR analysis. During the crystallization process from the melt, the crystallization temperature of the PHBV/PPC blend decreased about 8 degreesC, the melting temperature was depressed by 4 degreesC, and the degree of crystallinity of PHBV in the blend decreased about 9.4%; this was calculated through a comparison of the DSC heating traces for the blend and pure PHBV. These results indicated that imperfect crystals of formed, crystallization was inhibited, and the crystallization ability of PHBV was weakened in the blend. The equilibrium melting temperatures of PHBV and the 30/70 PHBV/PPC blend isothermally crystallized were 187.1 and 179 degreesC, respectively.