Optical and Photophysical Properties of Indolocarbazole Derivatives

Indolocarbazole based polymer coated super adsorbent polyurethane sponges for oil/organic solvent removal

The synthesis of an indolocarbazole-fluorene based conjugated polymer (ICZP6), by Sonogashira coupling reaction, has been presented. The ICZP6 has then been integrated with a nano iron oxide embedded polyurethane foam (ICZP6PUF) to develop a promising adsorbent for oil/organic contaminants in aqueous systems. The anchoring ability of ICZP6 on to iron oxide PU sponge switches on significant hydrophobicity within the whole molecular assembly. The cooperative effects of ICZP6-iron oxide- PU sponge system have been highlighted in terms of structural, microscopic and wettability characteristics. The heterogeneity and hierarchical porous structure of the system offer a high adsorption capability for different types of oils and organic contaminants in water, typically in the range of 100-240 gg^-1. The performance of ICZP6PUF has been confirmed by the fast (within 5-10s) and choosy removal of selected oils and organic solvents from polluted water with the aid of an external magnetic field. The adsorbed materials (oil/organic solvents) can be separated from the adsorbent by simple mechanical squeezing without causing any structural deformation or performance deterioration; with a reusability of the system over 50 cycles. The adsorption isotherm has been found to fit well with the Langmuir model with R² = 0.9484. To extent the scope of the ICZP6PUF hybrid, an integrative logic gate has been designed.

Conductivity and Density of States of New Polyphenylquinoline

Electrical, photoelectrical, and optical properties of thin films of a new heat-resistant polyphenylquinoline synthesized using facile methods were investigated. An analysis of the obtained temperature dependences of the dark conductivity and photoconductivity indicates the hopping mechanism of conductivity over localized states arranging at the energy distance of 0.8 eV from the Fermi level located inside the band gap of the investigated material. The optical band gap of the studied material was estimated from an analysis of the spectral dependences of the photoconductivity and absorption coefficient before (1.8–1.9 eV) and after (2.0–2.2 eV) annealing at temperatures exceeding 100 °C. The Gaussian character of the distribution of the localized states of density inside the band gap near the edges of the bands was established. A mechanism of changes in the optical band gap of the investigating polymer under its annealing is proposed.

Efficiency enhancement of perovskite solar cells via incorporation of phenylethenyl side arms into indolocarbazole-based hole transporting materials

Small-molecule hole transporting materials based on an indolocarbazole core were synthesized and incorporated into perovskite solar cells, which displayed a power conversion efficiency up to 15.24%. The investigated hole transporting materials were synthesized in three steps from commercially available and relatively inexpensive starting materials without using expensive catalysts. Various electro-optical measurements (UV-vis, CV, hole mobility, DSC, TGA, ionization potential) have been carried out to characterize the new hole transporting materials.

Indolo[3,2-b]carbazole-based poly(arylene ethynylene)s

A novel family of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (ICZ)-based polymers was designed and synthesized using Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction between three bisbromine indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles and 1,4-diethynylbenzene. The new polymers have an arylene ethynylene structure with ICZ moiety interconnected in the main chain by 2,8-, 3,9- or 6,12- positions. The polymers were obtained as partially soluble materials, in chlorinated, aromatic and aprotic polar solvents. The structure of the polymers was studied by spectroscopic methods such as Fourier transform infrared, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet–visible and photoluminescence spectroscopies, thermogravimetry and molecular weights determined by gel permeation chromatography. Electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry using films cast on platinum disc working electrode. Optical and electronic properties were discussed from the viewpoint of the connection positions of ICZ units in the polymer chain.

Conjugated foldamers with unusually high space-charge-limited current hole mobilities

Charge carrier mobility and its optimization play a critical role in the development of cutting-edge organic electronic and optoelectronic devices. Even though space-charge-limited current (SCLC) hole mobilities as high as 1.4 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) have been reported for microscopically sized highly ordered liquid-crystalline conjugated small molecules, the SCLC hole mobility of device-sized thin films of conjugated polymers is still much lower, ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Herein, we report the synthesis, characterizations, and thin-film SCLC mobility of three discotic conjugated polymers, INDT-TT, INDT-BT, and INDT-NDT. Optical studies indicate that polymer INDT-NDT adopts a folded conformation in solutions of good or poor solvents, whereas polymer INDT-TT stays as random monomeric chains in good solvents and interchain aggregates in poor solvents. INDT-BT polymer chains, however, stay as foldamers in dilute solutions of good solvents but interchain aggregates in concentrated solutions or poor solvents. Circular dichroism spectroscopy provides clear evidence for the helical folding of INDT-NDT in solutions. Thin films spin-coated from 1,2-dichlorobenzene solutions of the polymers show SCLC hole mobility of 2.20 × 10(-6), 8.79 × 10(-5), and 2.77 × 10(-2) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for INDT-TT, INDT-BT, and INDT-NDT, respectively. HRTEM and powder XRD measurements show that INDT-NDT pristine thin films contain nanocrystalline domains, whereas the INDT-TT and INDT-BT films are amorphous. Thin films of INDT-NDT:PC71BM blends show increased crystallinity and further improved SCLC hole mobility up to 1.29 × 10(-1) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), one of the highest SCLC mobility values ever recorded on solution-processed organic semiconducting thin films. The persistent folding conformation of INDT-NDT is believed to be responsible for the high crystallinity of its thin films and its high SCLC mobilities.

Toward a rational design of poly(2,7-carbazole) derivatives for solar cells

On the basis of theoretical models and calculations, several alternating polymeric structures have been investigated to develop optimized poly(2,7-carbazole) derivatives for solar cell applications. Selected low band gap alternating copolymers have been obtained via a Suzuki coupling reaction. A good correlation between DFT theoretical calculations performed on model compounds and the experimental HOMO, LUMO, and band gap energies of the corresponding polymers has been obtained. This study reveals that the alternating copolymer HOMO energy level is mainly fixed by the carbazole moiety, whereas the LUMO energy level is mainly related to the nature of the electron-withdrawing comonomer. However, solar cell performances are not solely driven by the energy levels of the materials. Clearly, the molecular weight and the overall organization of the polymers are other important key parameters to consider when developing new polymers for solar cells. Preliminary measurements have revealed hole mobilities of about 1 x 10(-3) cm2 x V(-1) x s(-1) and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 3.6%. Further improvements are anticipated through a rational design of new symmetric low band gap poly(2,7-carbazole) derivatives.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Indolo[3,2-b]carbazole Semiconductors

The synthesis, characterization, and field-effect transistor (FET) properties of new indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles are described. In particular, an extensive characterization of their crystal structures has revealed the importance of the nature of the side chains (alkyl, phenyl, thienyl substituents) on their solid-state organization. These organic materials have exhibited p-type FET behavior with hole mobilities as high as 0.2 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) with an on/off current ratio higher than 10(6). Best results were obtained with phenyl-substituted indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles since the presence of phenyl substituents seems to allow efficient overlap between the oligomeric molecules. More importantly, FET properties were kept constant during several months in air.