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Moore GJ, Bardagot O, Banerji N. Deep Transfer Learning: A Fast and Accurate Tool to Predict the Energy Levels of Donor Molecules for Organic Photovoltaics. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/adts.202100511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth John Moore
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Freiestrasse 3 Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | - Olivier Bardagot
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Freiestrasse 3 Bern 3012 Switzerland
| | - Natalie Banerji
- Department of Chemistry Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Freiestrasse 3 Bern 3012 Switzerland
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2
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Feng J, Wang H, Ji Y, Li Y. Molecular design and performance improvement in organic solar cells guided by high‐throughput screening and machine learning. NANO SELECT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/nano.202100006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Feng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials & Devices Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu China
| | - Hongshuai Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials & Devices Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu China
| | - Yujin Ji
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials & Devices Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu China
| | - Youyong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials & Devices Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu China
- Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR Macau China
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3
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Wang CI, Hsu CH, Hua CC. The correspondence between the conformational and chromophoric properties of amorphous conjugated polymers in mesoscale condensed systems. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:20818-20828. [PMID: 28744545 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03415f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
For π-conjugated polymers, the notion of spectroscopic units or "chromophores" provides illuminating insights into the experimentally observed absorption/emission spectra and the mechanisms of energy/charge transfer. To date, however, no statistical analysis has revealed a direct correspondence between chromophoric and conformational properties-with the latter being fundamental to polymer semiconductors. Herein, we propose a "persistence length" calculation to re-evaluate chain conformation over a full conjugation length. The mesoscale condensed systems of MEH-PPV and MEH-PPV/C60 hybrid (system size ∼10 × 10 × 10 nm3) are utilized as two prototypical model systems, along with a full range of segmental lengths (2-20-mer) and five lowest singlet excited states to hint at the generality of the features presented. We demonstrate, for the first time, that two properly re-defined conformational factors that characterize chain folding and planarity, respectively, capture excellently the population distribution of chromophores in both systems investigated. In contrast, the conventional strategy of utilizing two adjacent monomer units to characterize (local) chain conformation results in only an inconspicuous correlation between the two, as previously reported. It is further shown that chain folding-and not chain planarity-is more relevant in capturing the associated oscillator strength for the first excited state, where the transient dipole moments are known to align with the chain conformation, although the corresponding excitation energy and exciton size seem relatively unaffected. The observed effects of C60 on the MEH-PPV adsorption spectra also agree with recent experimental trends. Overall, the present findings are expected to aid future multiscale computer simulations and spectroscopy-data interpretations for polymer semiconductors and their hybrid systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun I Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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4
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Lee MK, Bravaya KB, Coker DF. First-Principles Models for Biological Light-Harvesting: Phycobiliprotein Complexes from Cryptophyte Algae. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:7803-7814. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b01780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mi Kyung Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ksenia B. Bravaya
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - David F. Coker
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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5
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Mortuza SM, Banerjee S. Atomistic modelling – impact and opportunities in thin-film photovoltaic solar cell technologies. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2017.1295455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. M. Mortuza
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Soumik Banerjee
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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6
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Lee CK, Pao CW. Multiscale Molecular Simulation of Solution Processing of SMDPPEH: PCBM Small-Molecule Organic Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:20691-20700. [PMID: 27435212 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b05027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Solution-processed small-molecule organic solar cells are a promising renewable energy source because of their low production cost, mechanical flexibility, and light weight relative to their pure inorganic counterparts. In this work, we developed a coarse-grained (CG) Gay-Berne ellipsoid molecular simulation model based on atomistic trajectories from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of smaller system sizes to systematically study the nanomorphology of the SMDPPEH/PCBM/solvent ternary blend during solution processing, including the blade-coating process by applying external shear to the solution. With the significantly reduced overall system degrees of freedom and computational acceleration from GPU, we were able to go well beyond the limitation of conventional all-atom molecular simulations with a system size on the order of hundreds of nanometers with mesoscale molecular detail. Our simulations indicate that, similar to polymer solar cells, the optimal blending ratio in small-molecule organic solar cells must provide the highest specific interfacial area for efficient exciton dissociation, while retaining balanced hole/electron transport pathway percolation. We also reveal that blade-coating processes have a significant impact on nanomorphology. For given donor/acceptor blending ratios, applying an external shear force can effectively promote donor/acceptor phase segregation and stacking in the SMDPPEH domains. The present study demonstrated the capability of an ellipsoid-based coarse-grained model for studying the nanomorphology evolution of small-molecule organic solar cells during solution processing/blade-coating and provided links between fabrication protocols and device nanomorphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Kuang Lee
- Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute , Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Wei Pao
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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7
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Carrillo JMY, Seibers Z, Kumar R, Matheson MA, Ankner JF, Goswami M, Bhaskaran-Nair K, Shelton WA, Sumpter BG, Kilbey SM. Petascale Simulations of the Morphology and the Molecular Interface of Bulk Heterojunctions. ACS NANO 2016; 10:7008-22. [PMID: 27299676 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b03009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how additives interact and segregate within bulk heterojunction (BHJ) thin films is critical for exercising control over structure at multiple length scales and delivering improvements in photovoltaic performance. The morphological evolution of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends that are commensurate with the size of a BHJ thin film is examined using petascale coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Comparisons between two-component and three-component systems containing short P3HT chains as additives undergoing thermal annealing demonstrate that the short chains alter the morphology in apparently useful ways: they efficiently migrate to the P3HT/PCBM interface, increasing the P3HT domain size and interfacial area. Simulation results agree with depth profiles determined from neutron reflectometry measurements that reveal PCBM enrichment near substrate and air interfaces but a decrease in that PCBM enrichment when a small amount of short P3HT chains are integrated into the BHJ blend. Atomistic simulations of the P3HT/PCBM blend interfaces show a nonmonotonic dependence of the interfacial thickness as a function of number of repeat units in the oligomeric P3HT additive, and the thiophene rings orient parallel to the interfacial plane as they approach the PCBM domain. Using the nanoscale geometries of the P3HT oligomers, LUMO and HOMO energy levels calculated by density functional theory are found to be invariant across the donor/acceptor interface. These connections between additives, processing, and morphology at all length scales are generally useful for efforts to improve device performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Michael Y Carrillo
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Zach Seibers
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Rajeev Kumar
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Michael A Matheson
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - John F Ankner
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Monojoy Goswami
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Kiran Bhaskaran-Nair
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - William A Shelton
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Bobby G Sumpter
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - S Michael Kilbey
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, ‡Computer Science and Mathematics Division, §National Center for Computational Sciences, and ∥Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering and @Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology and #Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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8
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Acevedo YM, Cantrell RA, Berard PG, Koch DL, Clancy P. Multiscale Simulation and Modeling of Multilayer Heteroepitactic Growth of C60 on Pentacene. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:3045-3056. [PMID: 26937559 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b04500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We apply multiscale methods to describe the strained growth of multiple layers of C60 on a thin film of pentacene. We study this growth in the presence of a monolayer pentacene step to compare our simulations to recent experimental studies by Breuer and Witte of submonolayer growth in the presence of monolayer steps. The molecular-level details of this organic semiconductor interface have ramifications on the macroscale structural and electronic behavior of this system and allow us to describe several unexplained experimental observations for this system. The growth of a C60 thin film on a pentacene surface is complicated by the differing crystal habits of the two component species, leading to heteroepitactical growth. In order to probe this growth, we use three computational methods that offer different approaches to coarse-graining the system and differing degrees of computational efficiency. We present a new, efficient reaction-diffusion continuum model for 2D systems whose results compare well with mesoscale kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) results for submonolayer growth. KMC extends our ability to simulate multiple layers but requires a library of predefined rates for event transitions. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) circumvents KMC's need for predefined lattices, allowing defects and grain boundaries to provide a more realistic thin film morphology. For multilayer growth, in this particularly suitable candidate for coarse-graining, CGMD is a preferable approach to KMC. Combining the results from these three methods, we show that the lattice strain induced by heteroepitactical growth promotes 3D growth and the creation of defects in the first monolayer. The CGMD results are consistent with experimental results on the same system by Conrad et al. and by Breuer and Witte in which C60 aggregates change from a 2D structure at low temperature to 3D clusters along the pentacene step edges at higher temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaset M Acevedo
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Rebecca A Cantrell
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Philip G Berard
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Donald L Koch
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Paulette Clancy
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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9
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Zhou N, Dudnik AS, Li TING, Manley EF, Aldrich TJ, Guo P, Liao HC, Chen Z, Chen LX, Chang RPH, Facchetti A, Olvera de la Cruz M, Marks TJ. All-Polymer Solar Cell Performance Optimized via Systematic Molecular Weight Tuning of Both Donor and Acceptor Polymers. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:1240-51. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b10735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eric F. Manley
- Chemical
Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | | | | | | | - Zhihua Chen
- Polyera Corporation, 8045 Lamon Avenue, Skokie, Illinois 60077, United States
| | - Lin X. Chen
- Chemical
Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | | | - Antonio Facchetti
- Polyera Corporation, 8045 Lamon Avenue, Skokie, Illinois 60077, United States
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10
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Zhugayevych A, Tretiak S. Theoretical Description of Structural and Electronic Properties of Organic Photovoltaic Materials. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2015; 66:305-30. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-040214-121440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andriy Zhugayevych
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545;
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia 143025
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545;
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11
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Xu X, Ji Y, Du C, Hou T, Li Y. The prediction of the morphology and PCE of small molecular organic solar cells. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra12318f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The predicted morphology, domain size, PCE (power conversion efficiency) of Small Molecular Organic Solar Cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Xu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Yujin Ji
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Chunmiao Du
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Youyong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
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12
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Sahu H, Gupta S, Gaur P, Panda AN. Structure and optoelectronic properties of helical pyridine–furan, pyridine–pyrrole and pyridine–thiophene oligomers. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp02872h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The optoelectronic properties of helical structures pyridine–furan, pyridine–pyrrole and pyridine–thiophene oligomers are explored using density functional theory methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harikrishna Sahu
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- India
| | - Shashwat Gupta
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- India
| | - Priyank Gaur
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- India
| | - Aditya N. Panda
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- India
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13
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Sumpter BG, Liang L, Nicolaï A, Meunier V. Interfacial properties and design of functional energy materials. Acc Chem Res 2014; 47:3395-405. [PMID: 24963787 DOI: 10.1021/ar500180h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
CONSPECTUS: The vital importance of energy to society continues to demand a relentless pursuit of energy responsive materials that can bridge fundamental chemical structures at the molecular level and achieve improved functionality and performance. This demand can potentially be realized by harnessing the power of self-assembly, a spontaneous process where molecules or much larger entities form ordered aggregates as a consequence of predominately noncovalent (weak) interactions. Self-assembly is the key to bottom-up design of molecular devices, because the nearly atomic-level control is very difficult to realize in a top-down, for example, lithographic, approach. However, while function in simple systems such as single crystals can often be evaluated a priori, predicting the function of the great variety of self-assembled molecular architectures is complicated by the lack of understanding and control over nanoscale interactions, mesoscale architectures, and macroscale order. To establish a foundation toward delivering practical solutions, it is critical to develop an understanding of the chemical and physical mechanisms responsible for the self-assembly of molecular and hybrid materials on various support substrates. Typical molecular self-assembly involves noncovalent intermolecular and substrate-molecule interactions. These interactions remain poorly understood, due to the combination of many-body interactions compounded by local or collective influences from the substrate atomic lattice and electronic structure. Progress toward unraveling the underlying physicochemical processes that control the structure and macroscopic physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, and transport properties of materials increasingly requires tight integration of theory, modeling, and simulation with precision synthesis, advanced experimental characterization, and device measurements. Theory, modeling, and simulation can accelerate the process of materials understanding and design by providing atomic level understanding of the underlying physicochemical phenomena (illuminating connections between experiments). It can also provide the ability to explore new materials and conditions before they are realized in the laboratory. With tight integration and feedback with experiment, it becomes feasible to identify promising materials or processes for targeted energy applications. In this Account, we highlight recent advances and success in using an integrated approach based on electronic structure simulations and scanning probe microscopy techniques to study and design functional materials formed from the self-assembly of molecules into supramolecular or polymeric architectures on substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobby G. Sumpter
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences and Computer Science & Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Liangbo Liang
- Department
of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Adrien Nicolaï
- Department
of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Vincent Meunier
- Department
of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
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14
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Treat ND, Chabinyc ML. Phase Separation in Bulk Heterojunctions of Semiconducting Polymers and Fullerenes for Photovoltaics. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2014; 65:59-81. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-040513-103712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neil D. Treat
- Department of Materials and Centre for Plastic Electronics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Michael L. Chabinyc
- Materials Department and Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106;
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15
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To TT, Adams S. Modelling of P3HT:PCBM interface using coarse-grained forcefield derived from accurate atomistic forcefield. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2014; 16:4653-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp54308k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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16
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Kanal IY, Owens SG, Bechtel JS, Hutchison GR. Efficient Computational Screening of Organic Polymer Photovoltaics. J Phys Chem Lett 2013; 4:1613-1623. [PMID: 26282968 DOI: 10.1021/jz400215j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in rational, computationally driven design methods for materials, including organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Our approach focuses on a screening "pipeline", using a genetic algorithm for first stage screening and multiple filtering stages for further refinement. An important step forward is to expand our diversity of candidate compounds, including both synthetic and property-based measures of diversity. For example, top monomer pairs from our screening are all donor-donor (D-D) combinations, in contrast with the typical donor-acceptor (D-A) motif used in organic photovoltaics. We also find a strong "sequence effect", in which the average HOMO-LUMO gap of tetramers changes by ∼0.2 eV as a function of monomer sequence (e.g., ABBA versus BAAB); this has rarely been explored in conjugated polymers. Beyond such optoelectronic optimization, we discuss other properties needed for high-efficiency organic solar cells, and applications of screening methods to other areas, including non-fullerene n-type materials, tandem cells, and improving charge and exciton transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Y Kanal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Steven G Owens
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jonathon S Bechtel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Geoffrey R Hutchison
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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17
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Grimm B, Risko C, Azoulay JD, Brédas JL, Bazan GC. Structural dependence of the optical properties of narrow bandgap semiconductors with orthogonal donor–acceptor geometries. Chem Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3sc22188a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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18
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Small Optical Gap Molecules and Polymers: Using Theory to Design More Efficient Materials for Organic Photovoltaics. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2013; 352:1-38. [DOI: 10.1007/128_2013_459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
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19
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Carrillo JMY, Kumar R, Goswami M, Sumpter BG, Brown WM. New insights into the dynamics and morphology of P3HT:PCBM active layers in bulk heterojunctions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:17873-82. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp53271b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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20
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Zhu P, Meunier V. Electronic properties of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks. J Chem Phys 2012; 137:244703. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4772535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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