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Eller F, Wenzel FA, Hildner R, Havenith RWA, Herzig EM. Spark Discharge Doping-Achieving Unprecedented Control over Aggregate Fraction and Backbone Ordering in Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Solutions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2207537. [PMID: 36861324 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The properties of semiconducting polymers are strongly influenced by their aggregation behavior, that is, their aggregate fraction and backbone planarity. However, tuning these properties, particularly the backbone planarity, is challenging. This work introduces a novel solution treatment to precisely control the aggregation of semiconducting polymers, namely current-induced doping (CID). It utilizes spark discharges between two electrodes immersed in a polymer solution to create strong electrical currents resulting in temporary doping of the polymer. Rapid doping-induced aggregation occurs upon every treatment step for the semiconducting model-polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene). Therefore, the aggregate fraction in solution can be precisely tuned up to a maximum value determined by the solubility of the doped state. A qualitative model for the dependences of the achievable aggregate fraction on the CID treatment strength and various solution parameters is presented. Moreover, the CID treatment can yield an extraordinarily high quality of backbone order and planarization, expressed in UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Depending on the selected parameters, an arbitrarily lower backbone order can be chosen using the CID treatment, allowing for maximum control of aggregation. This method may become an elegant pathway to finely tune aggregation and solid-state morphology for thin-films of semiconducting polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Eller
- Dynamics and Structure Formation - Herzig Group, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Felix A Wenzel
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Richard Hildner
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Remco W A Havenith
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
- Ghent Quantum Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S3), Gent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - Eva M Herzig
- Dynamics and Structure Formation - Herzig Group, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
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Schütze Y, Gayen D, Palczynski K, de Oliveira Silva R, Lu Y, Tovar M, Partovi-Azar P, Bande A, Dzubiella J. How Regiochemistry Influences Aggregation Behavior and Charge Transport in Conjugated Organosulfur Polymer Cathodes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries. ACS NANO 2023; 17:7889-7900. [PMID: 37014093 PMCID: PMC10141565 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
For lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries to become competitive, they require high stability and energy density. Organosulfur polymer-based cathodes have recently shown promising performance due to their ability to overcome common limitations of Li-S batteries, such as the insulating nature of sulfur. In this study, we use a multiscale modeling approach to explore the influence of the regiochemistry of a conjugated poly(4-(thiophene-3-yl)benzenethiol) (PTBT) polymer on its aggregation behavior and charge transport. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of the self-assembly of polymer chains with different regioregularity show that a head-to-tail/head-to-tail regularity can form a well-ordered crystalline phase of planar chains allowing for fast charge transport. Our X-ray diffraction measurements, in conjunction with our predicted crystal structure, confirm the presence of crystalline phases in the electropolymerized PTBT polymer. We quantitatively describe the charge transport in the crystalline phase in a band-like regime. Our results give detailed insights into the interplay between microstructural and electrical properties of conjugated polymer cathode materials, highlighting the effect of polymer chain regioregularity on its charge transport properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannik Schütze
- Research
Group for Simulations of Energy Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
- Theoretical
Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Diptesh Gayen
- Applied Theoretical
Physics - Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Straße 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karol Palczynski
- Research
Group for Simulations of Energy Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ranielle de Oliveira Silva
- Department
Electrochemical Energy Storage, Helmholtz-Zentrum
Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yan Lu
- Department
Electrochemical Energy Storage, Helmholtz-Zentrum
Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Michael Tovar
- Department
Structure and Dynamics of Energy Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pouya Partovi-Azar
- Institute
for Chemistry, Martin Luther Universität
Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Annika Bande
- Theory of
Electron Dynamics and Spectroscopy, Helmholtz-Zentrum
Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Research
Group for Simulations of Energy Materials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
- Applied Theoretical
Physics - Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Straße 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Zhao X, Sun P, Zhao K. The study of aggregation dynamics of conjugated polymer solutions in UV-vis absorbance spectra by considering the changing rate of average photon energy. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06638. [PMID: 33889772 PMCID: PMC8050370 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The changing rate of average photon energy ('Eave) can describe the UV-vis absorbance spectra over a wavelength range. During the aggregation process of poly (3-hexylselenophene) (P3HS) and poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) solutions that form J-aggregates, 'Eave always decrease and the relationship between 'Eave and time is an exponential model. 'Eave can predict the time when the aggregation process is completed or how far the aggregation process is from the completion. Hansen Solubility Parameter (HSP) of the solvent can be used to predict 'Eave of some conjugated polymer solutions without doing experiments. ''E0ave (changing rate of 'Eave at the beginning of the aggregation process) has been calculated to reflect the overall changing trend of 'Eave and reflects the compatibility between solvent and solute. Therefore, 'Eave is suitable to describe the aggregation dynamics of conjugated polymer solutions by evaluating the aggregation process in UV-vis absorbance spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhao
- Zhengzhou University, School of Chemical Engineering, 100 Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China
| | - Peiqin Sun
- Zhengzhou University, School of Chemical Engineering, 100 Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Zhengzhou University, School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering Science, 100 Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China
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