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Bruder J, Fischer K, Armleder J, Müller E, Da Roit N, Behrens S, Peng Y, Wenzel W, Röhm H, Colsmann A. Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation in Surfactant-Free, Aqueous Organic Nanoparticle Dispersions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2406236. [PMID: 39358967 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202406236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogen generation in electrostatically stabilized, aqueous organic nanoparticle dispersions is investigated. For this purpose, organic nanoparticle dispersions are synthesized in water by nanoprecipitation from tetrahydrofuran and stabilized by charging through strong molecular electron acceptors. The dispersions are stable for more than 10 weeks on the shelf and during the photocatalytic process, despite the continuous transfer of charges between the reactants. The hydrogen generation in the electrostatically stabilized dispersions outperforms the hydrogen generation in organic nanoparticle dispersions which contain the common stabilizer sodium dodecyl sulfate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bruder
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Strasse am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Light Technology Institute, Engesserstrasse 13, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Karen Fischer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Strasse am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Light Technology Institute, Engesserstrasse 13, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jonas Armleder
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Strasse am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Light Technology Institute, Engesserstrasse 13, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Erich Müller
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Strasse am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Engesserstrasse 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nicola Da Roit
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Silke Behrens
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Yuman Peng
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wenzel
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Holger Röhm
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Strasse am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Light Technology Institute, Engesserstrasse 13, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Alexander Colsmann
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Strasse am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Light Technology Institute, Engesserstrasse 13, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Du Y, Wang Y, Shamraienko V, Pöschel K, Synytska A. Donor:Acceptor Janus Nanoparticle-Based Films as Photoactive Layers: Control of Assembly and Impact on Performance of Devices. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2206907. [PMID: 37010023 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Water-processable organic semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) are considered promising materials for the next-generation of optoelectronic applications due to their controlled size, internal structure, and environmentally friendly processing. Reasonably, the controllable assembly of donor:acceptor (D:A) NPs on large areas, quality, and packing density of deposited films, as well as layer morphology, will influence the effectiveness of charge transfer at an interface and the final performance of designed optoelectronic devices.This work represents an easy and effective approach for designing self-assembled monolayers of D:A NPs. In this self-assembly procedure, the NP arrays are prepared on a large scale (2 × 2 cm2 ) at the air/water interface with controlled packing density and morphology. Due to the unique structure of individual D:A Janus particles and their assembled arrays, the Janus nanoparticle (JNP)-based device exhibits an 80% improvement of electron mobility and more balanced charge extraction compared to the conventional core-shell NP-based device. An outstanding performance of polymer solar cells with over 5% efficiency is achieved after post-annealing treatment of assembled arrays, representing one of the best results for NP-based organic photovoltaics. Ultimately, this work provides a new protocol for processing water-processable organic semiconductor colloids and future optoelectronic fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Du
- Institut Physikalische Chemie und Physik der Polymere, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Fakultat Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
- Bayerisches Polymerinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Yuemeng Wang
- Institut Physikalische Chemie und Physik der Polymere, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Volodymyr Shamraienko
- Fakultat Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kathrin Pöschel
- Institut Physikalische Chemie und Physik der Polymere, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alla Synytska
- Institut Physikalische Chemie und Physik der Polymere, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Fakultat Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
- Bayerisches Polymerinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
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Chen T, Peng Y, Qiu M, Yi C, Xu Z. Recent advances in mixing-induced nanoprecipitation: from creating complex nanostructures to emerging applications beyond biomedicine. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:3594-3609. [PMID: 36727557 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr00280b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mixing-induced nanoprecipitation (MINP) is an efficient, controllable, scalable, versatile, and cost-effective technique for the preparation of nanoparticles. In addition to the formulation of drugs, MINP has attracted tremendous interest in other fields. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the preparation of nanoparticles with complex nanostructures via MINP and their emerging applications beyond biomedicine. First, the mechanisms of nanoprecipitation and four mixing approaches for MINP are briefly discussed. Next, three strategies for the preparation of nanoparticles with complex nanostructures including sequential nanoprecipitation, controlling phase separation, and incorporating inorganic nanoparticles, are summarized. Then, emerging applications including the engineering of catalytic nanomaterials, environmentally friendly photovoltaic inks, colloidal surfactants for the preparation of Pickering emulsions, and green templates for the synthesis of nanomaterials, are reviewed. Furthermore, we discuss the structure-function relationships to gain more insight into design principles for the development of functional nanoparticles via MINP. Finally, the remaining issues and future applications are discussed. This review will stimulate the development of nanoparticles with complex nanostructures and their broader applications beyond biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyou Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Yan Peng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Meishuang Qiu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Changfeng Yi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Zushun Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
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Amphiphilic PTB7-Based Rod-Coil Block Copolymer for Water-Processable Nanoparticles as an Active Layer for Sustainable Organic Photovoltaic: A Case Study. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14081588. [PMID: 35458337 PMCID: PMC9029162 DOI: 10.3390/polym14081588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We synthetized a new rod-coil block copolymer (BCP) based on the semiconducting polymerpoly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) and poly-4-vinylpyridine (P4VP), tailored to produce water-processable nanoparticles (WPNPs) in blend with phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM). The copolymer PTB7-b-P4VP was completely characterized by means of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to confirm the molecular structure. The WPNPs were prepared through an adapted miniemulsion approach without any surfactants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal the nano-segregation of two active materials inside the WPNPs. The nanostructures appear spherical with a Janus-like inner morphology. PTB7 segregated to one side of the nanoparticle, while PC71BM segregated to the other side. This morphology was consistent with the value of the surface energy obtained for the two active materials PTB7-b-P4VP and PC71BM. The WPNPs obtained were deposited as an active layer of organic solar cells (OSCs). The films obtained were characterized by UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-vis), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). J-V characteristics of the WPNP-based devices were measured by obtaining a power conversion efficiency of 0.85%. Noticeably, the efficiency of the WPNP-based devices was higher than that achieved for the devices fabricated with the PTB7-based BCP dissolved in chlorinated organic solvent.
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Marlow P, Manger F, Fischer K, Sprau C, Colsmann A. Eco-friendly fabrication of organic solar cells: electrostatic stabilization of surfactant-free organic nanoparticle dispersions by illumination. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:5569-5578. [PMID: 35343987 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr00095d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Earlier reports have discussed the manifold opportunities that arise from the use of eco-friendly organic semiconductor dispersions as inks for printed electronics and, in particular, organic photovoltaics. To date, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) plays an outstanding role since it has been the only organic semiconductor that formed nanoparticle dispersions with sufficient stability and concentration without the use of surfactants. This work elucidates the underlying mechanisms that lead to the formation of intrinsically stable P3HT dispersions and reveals prevailing electrostatic effects to rule the nanoparticle growth. The electrostatic dispersion stability can be enhanced by photo-generation of additional charges, depending on the light intensity and its wavelength. This facile, additive-free process provides a universal handle to also stabilize surfactant-free dispersions of other semiconducting polymers, which are frequently used to fabricate organic solar cells or other optoelectronic thin-film devices. The more generalized process understanding paves the way towards a universal synthesis route for organic nanoparticle dispersions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Marlow
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Felix Manger
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Karen Fischer
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Christian Sprau
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Alexander Colsmann
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstrasse 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Saxena S, Marlow P, Subbiah J, Colsmann A, Wong WWH, Jones DJ. Pyridine End-Capped Polymer to Stabilize Organic Nanoparticle Dispersions for Solar Cell Fabrication through Reversible Pyridinium Salt Formation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:36044-36052. [PMID: 34296593 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c07219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bulk-heterojunction nanoparticle dispersions in water or alcohol can be employed as eco-friendly inks for the fabrication of organic solar cells by printing or coating. However, one major drawback is the need for stabilizing surfactants, which facilitate nanoparticle formation but later hamper device performance. When surfactant-free dispersions are formulated, a strong limitation is imposed by the dispersion concentration due to the tendency of nanoparticles to aggregate. In this work, pyridine end-capped poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT-Py) is synthesized and included as an additive for the stabilization of P3HT:indene-C60 bis-adduct (ICBA) nanoparticle dispersions. In the presence of acetic acid (AcOH), a surface-active pyridinium acetate end-capped P3HT ion pair, P3HT-PyH+AcO-, is formed which effectively stabilizes the dispersion and hence allows the formation of dispersions with smaller nanoparticle sizes and higher concentrations of up to 30 mg/mL in methanol. The dispersions exhibit an enhanced shelf-lifetime of at least 60 days at room temperature. After the deposition of light-harvesting layers from the nanoparticle dispersions, the ion-pair formation is reversed at elevated temperatures leading to regeneration of P3HT-Py and AcOH. The AcOH evaporates from the active layer, while the performance of the corresponding solar cells is not affected by the residual P3HT-Py in the devices. Enhanced nanoparticle stability is achieved with only 0.017 wt % pyridine in the P3HT/ICBA formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Saxena
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philipp Marlow
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstrasse 13, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
| | - Jegadesan Subbiah
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alexander Colsmann
- Material Research Center for Energy Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 7, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstrasse 13, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
| | - Wallace W H Wong
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Jones
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Victoria, Australia
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Holmes A, Deniau E, Lartigau-Dagron C, Bousquet A, Chambon S, Holmes NP. Review of Waterborne Organic Semiconductor Colloids for Photovoltaics. ACS NANO 2021; 15:3927-3959. [PMID: 33620200 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Development of carbon neutral and sustainable energy sources should be considered as a top priority solution for the growing worldwide energy demand. Photovoltaics are a strong candidate, more specifically, organic photovoltaics (OPV), enabling the design of flexible, lightweight, semitransparent, and low-cost solar cells. However, the active layer of OPV is, for now, mainly deposited from chlorinated solvents, harmful for the environment and for human health. Active layers processed from health and environmentally friendly solvents have over recent years formed a key focus topic of research, with the creation of aqueous dispersions of conjugated polymer nanoparticles arising. These nanoparticles are formed from organic semiconductors (molecules and macromolecules) initially designed for organic solvents. The topic of nanoparticle OPV has gradually garnered more attention, up to a point where in 2018 it was identified as a "trendsetting strategy" by leaders in the international OPV research community. Hence, this review has been prepared to provide a timely roadmap of the formation and application of aqueous nanoparticle dispersions of active layer components for OPV. We provide a thorough synopsis of recent developments in both nanoprecipitation and miniemulsion for preparing photovoltaic inks, facilitating readers in acquiring a deep understanding of the crucial synthesis parameters affecting particle size, colloidal concentration, ink stability, and more. This review also showcases the experimental levers for identifying and optimizing the internal donor-acceptor morphology of the nanoparticles, featuring cutting-edge X-ray spectromicroscopy measurements reported over the past decade. The different strategies to improve the incorporation of these inks into OPV devices and to increase their efficiency (to the current record of 7.5%) are reported, in addition to critical design choices of surfactant type and the advantages of single-component vs binary nanoparticle populations. The review naturally culminates by presenting the upscaling strategies in practice for this environmentally friendly and safer production of solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Holmes
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau 64012, France
| | - Elise Deniau
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau 64012, France
| | | | - Antoine Bousquet
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau 64012, France
| | - Sylvain Chambon
- LIMMS/CNRS-IIS (UMI2820), Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
| | - Natalie P Holmes
- Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Madsen Building F09, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Lee S, Jeong D, Kim C, Lee C, Kang H, Woo HY, Kim BJ. Eco-Friendly Polymer Solar Cells: Advances in Green-Solvent Processing and Material Design. ACS NANO 2020; 14:14493-14527. [PMID: 33103903 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite the recent breakthroughs of polymer solar cells (PSCs) exhibiting a power conversion efficiency of over 17%, toxic and hazardous organic solvents such as chloroform and chlorobenzene are still commonly used in their fabrication, which impedes the practical application of PSCs. Thus, the development of eco-friendly processing methods suitable for industrial-scale production is now considered an imperative research focus. This Review provides a roadmap for the design of efficient photoactive materials that are compatible with non-halogenated green solvents (e.g., xylenes, toluene, and tetrahydrofuran). We summarize the recent development of green processing solvents and the processing methods to match with the efficient photoactive materials used in non-fullerene solar cells. We further review progress in the use of more eco-friendly solvents (i.e., water or alcohol) for achieving truly sustainable and eco-friendly PSC fabrication. For example, the concept of water- or alcohol-dispersed nanoparticles made of conjugated materials is introduced. Also, recent important progress and strategies to develop water/alcohol-soluble photoactive materials that completely eliminate the use of conventional toxic solvents are discussed. Finally, we provide our perspectives on the challenges facing the current green processing methods and materials, such as large-area coating techniques and long-term stability. We believe this Review will inform the development of PSCs that are truly clean and renewable energy sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungjin Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Dahyun Jeong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Changkyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Changyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Hyunbum Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Han Young Woo
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Bumjoon J Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
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Ganzer L, Zappia S, Russo M, Ferretti AM, Vohra V, Diterlizzi M, Antognazza MR, Destri S, Virgili T. Ultrafast spectroscopy on water-processable PCBM: rod-coil block copolymer nanoparticles. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:26583-26591. [PMID: 33201972 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp05478j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Using ultrafast spectroscopy, we investigate the photophysics of water-processable nanoparticles composed of a block copolymer electron donor and a fullerene derivative electron acceptor. The block copolymers are based on a poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] rod, which is covalently linked with 2 or 100 hydrophilic coil units. In both samples the photogenerated excitons in the blend nanoparticles migrate in tens of ps to a donor/acceptor interface to be separated into free charges. However, transient absorption spectroscopy indicates that increasing the coil length from 2 to 100 units results in the formation of long living charge transfer states which reduce the charge generation efficiency. Our results shed light on the impact of rod-coil copolymer coil length on the blend nanoparticle morphology and provide essential information for the design of amphiphilic rod-coil block copolymers to increase the photovoltaic performances of water-processable organic solar cell active layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Ganzer
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano I-20132, Italy.
| | - Stefania Zappia
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Mattia Russo
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano I-20132, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Ferretti
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20138, Italy
| | - Varun Vohra
- Department of Engineering Science, the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-858, Japan
| | - Marianna Diterlizzi
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Maria Rosa Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Silvia Destri
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Tersilla Virgili
- IFN-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano I-20132, Italy.
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Subianto S, Balu R, de Campo L, Sokolova A, Dutta NK, Choudhury NR. Sulfonated Thiophene Derivative Stabilized Aqueous Poly(3-hexylthiophene):Phenyl-C 61-butyric Acid Methyl Ester Nanoparticle Dispersion for Organic Solar Cell Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:44116-44125. [PMID: 30474957 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b15589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous dispersions of poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) nanoparticles (NPs) have been fabricated using a thiophene-based surfactant 2-(3-thienyl)ethyloxybutylsulfonate sodium salt (TEBS) for the first time via the mini-emulsion process. The use of TEBS resulted in a stable colloidal dispersion of P3HT:PCBM NPs, of which the effect of various fabrication parameters is investigated. The fabricated NPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, contrast-variation small and ultra-small angle neutron scattering, and cyclic voltammetry. The internal structure and electrochemical performance of TEBS-stabilized P3HT:PCBM NPs were compared to those of sodium dodecyl sulfate-stabilized core-shell (PCBM-P3HT) NPs at the same surfactant concentration. Neutron scattering and cyclic voltammetry results reveal a homogeneous distribution of small de-mixed P3HT and PCBM domains in the internal structure of TEBS-stabilized P3HT:PCBM NPs, reminiscent of cast film. Moreover, electron microscopy images show evidence of diffused NP surface/interface upon drying (without annealing), which indicates that the thiophene-containing TEBS may improve compatibility and film-forming properties of fabricated P3HT:PCBM NPs, and consequently be more suited for conventional film-processing methods for organic solar cell applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya Subianto
- Future Industries Institute , University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes , South Australia 5095 , Australia
| | - Rajkamal Balu
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Liliana de Campo
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) , Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) , Lucas Heights , New South Wales 2232 , Australia
| | - Anna Sokolova
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) , Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) , Lucas Heights , New South Wales 2232 , Australia
| | - Naba K Dutta
- Future Industries Institute , University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes , South Australia 5095 , Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering , University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia 5005 , Australia
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Namita Roy Choudhury
- Future Industries Institute , University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes , South Australia 5095 , Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering , University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia 5005 , Australia
- School of Engineering , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
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Vohra V. Can Polymer Solar Cells Open the Path to Sustainable and Efficient Photovoltaic Windows Fabrication? CHEM REC 2018; 19:1166-1178. [DOI: 10.1002/tcr.201800072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Varun Vohra
- Department of Engineering ScienceUniversity of Electro-communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu City Tokyo 182-8585 Japan
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Di Maria F, Lodola F, Zucchetti E, Benfenati F, Lanzani G. The evolution of artificial light actuators in living systems: from planar to nanostructured interfaces. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:4757-4780. [PMID: 29663003 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00860k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Artificially enhancing light sensitivity in living cells allows control of neuronal paths or vital functions avoiding the wiring associated with the use of stimulation electrodes. Many possible strategies can be adopted for reaching this goal, including the direct photoexcitation of biological matter, the genetic modification of cells or the use of opto-bio interfaces. In this review we describe different light actuators based on both inorganic and organic semiconductors, from planar abiotic/biotic interfaces to nanoparticles, that allow transduction of a light signal into a signal which in turn affects the biological activity of the hosting system. In particular, we will focus on the application of thiophene-based materials which, thanks to their unique chemical-physical properties, geometrical adaptability, great biocompatibility and stability, have allowed the development of a new generation of fully organic light actuators for in vivo applications.
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