Sb2Se3‐Sensitized Inorganic–Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells Fabricated Using a Single‐Source Precursor

The photovoltaic performance of Sb₂Se₃‐sensitized heterojunction solar cells, which were fabricated by a simple deposition of Sb₂Se₃ on mesoporous TiO₂ by an approach that features multiple cycles of spin coating with a single‐source precursor solution and thermal decomposition, is reported. Poly[2,6‐(4,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)‐4H‐cyclopenta[2,1‐b;3,4‐b′]dithiophene)‐alt‐4,7(2,1,3‐benzothioadiazole)] was used as the hole‐transporting material. The most efficient cell exhibited a short‐circuit current density of 22.3 mA cm^?2, an open‐circuit voltage of 304.5 mV, and a fill factor of 47.2 %, yielding a power conversion efficiency of 3.21 % under standard test conditions (irradiation of 1000 W m^?2, air mass=1.5 G). The results of this study imply that the developed approach has a high potential as a simple and effective route for the fabrication of efficient and inexpensive solar cells.     

Hole‐Boosted Cu(Cr,M)O2 Nanocrystals for All‐Inorganic CsPbBr3 Perovskite Solar Cells

The all‐inorganic CsPbBr₃ perovskite solar cell (PSC) is a promising solution to balance the high efficiency and poor stability of state‐of‐the‐art organic–inorganic PSCs. Setting inorganic hole‐transporting layers at the perovskite/electrode interface decreases charge carrier recombination without sacrificing superiority in air. Now, M‐substituted, p‐type inorganic Cu(Cr,M)O₂ (M=Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Ni²⁺) nanocrystals with enhanced hole‐transporting characteristics by increasing interstitial oxygen effectively extract holes from perovskite. The all‐inorganic CsPbBr₃ PSC with a device structure of FTO/c‐TiO₂/m‐TiO₂/CsPbBr₃/Cu(Cr,M)O₂/carbon achieves an efficiency up to 10.18 % and it increases to 10.79 % by doping Sm³⁺ ions into perovskite halide, which is much higher than 7.39 % for the hole‐free device. The unencapsulated Cu(Cr,Ba)O₂‐based PSC presents a remarkable stability in air in either 80 % humidity over 60 days or 80 °C conditions over 40 days or light illumination for 7 days.     

Facile Synthesis of a Furan–Arylamine Hole‐Transporting Material for High‐Efficiency,Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells

A novel hole‐transporting molecule (F101) based on a furan core has been synthesized by means of a short, high‐yielding route. When used as the hole‐transporting material (HTM) in mesoporous methylammonium lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) it produced better device performance than the current state‐of‐the‐art HTM 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD). The F101‐HTM‐based device exhibited both slightly higher J_sc (19.63 vs. 18.41 mA cm^?2) and V_oc (1.1 vs. 1.05 V) resulting in a marginally higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) (13.1 vs. 13 %). The steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence show that F101 has significant charge extraction ability. The simple molecular structure, short synthesis route with high yield and better performance in devices makes F101 an excellent candidate for replacing the expensive spiro‐OMeTAD as HTM in PSCs.     

Synthesis and properties of σ–π conjugated alternating polymers consisting of carbazole and organosilicon units

We have synthesized novel σ–π conjugated polymers with an alternating organosilanylene and π‐electron system, intending to utilize them for hole‐transporting materials of electroluminescent (EL) devices. 3,6‐Di(lithioethynyl)carbazoles were co‐polymerized with organodichlorosilanes to give the corresponding polymers with molecular weights of M_W = 2000–5000. Another type of polymer with a thienylene unit was also synthesized by the nickel‐catalyzed reaction of the di‐Grignard reagent of 1,2‐bis[2‐(5‐bromothienyl)]tetraethyldisilane with 3,6‐dibromocarbazole, the molecular weight being M_n = 3100. The EL devices with a double‐layer system composed of tris(8‐quinolinolato)aluminum(III) and the present polymers as the emitting‐electron‐transporting and hole‐transporting layers, respectively, emit green EL with a maximum intensity of the order of 10³ cd m^?2. Of these, the device with the thienylene–carbazole polymers exhibited the highest luminance of 1480 cd m^?2. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deep‐red light‐emitting phosphorescent dendrimer encapsulated tris‐[2‐benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl‐pyridyl] iridium (III) core for light‐emitting device applications

New deep‐red light‐emitting phosphorescent dendrimers with hole‐transporting carbazole dendrons were synthesized by reacting tris(2‐benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl‐pyridyl) iridium (III) complex with carbazolyl dendrons by DCC‐catalyzed esterification. The resulting first‐, second‐, and third‐generation dendrimers were found to be highly efficient as solution‐processable emitting materials and for use in host‐free electrophosphorescent light‐emitting diodes. We fabricated a host‐free dendrimer EL device with configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS (40 nm)/dendrimer (55 nm)/BCP (10 nm)/Alq₃ (40 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) and characterized the device performance. The multilayered devices showed luminance of 561 cd/m² at 383.4 mA/cm² (12 V) for 15 , 1302 cd/m² at 321.3 mA/cm² (14 V) for 16 , and 422 cd/m² at 94.4 mA/cm² (18 V) for 17 . The third‐generation dendrimer, 17 (η_ext = 6.12% at 7.5 V), showed the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) with an increase in the density of the light‐harvesting carbazole dendron. Three dendrimers exhibited considerably pure deep‐red emission with CIE 1931 (Commission International de L'Eclairage) chromaticity coordinates of x = 0.70, y = 0.30. The CIE coordinates remained very stable with the current density. The integration of rigid hole‐transporting dendrons and phosphorescent complexes provides a new route to design highly efficient solution‐processable materials for dendrimer light‐emitting diode (DLED) applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7517–7533, 2008     

Fullerol–Titania Charge‐Transfer‐Mediated Photocatalysis Working under Visible Light

The development of visible‐light‐active photocatalysts is being investigated through various approaches. In this study, C₆₀‐based sensitized photocatalysis that works through the charge transfer (CT) mechanism is proposed and tested as a new approach. By employing the water‐soluble fullerol (C₆₀(OH)_x) instead of C₆₀, we demonstrate that the adsorbed fullerol activates TiO₂ under visible‐light irradiation through the “surface–complex CT” mechanism, which is largely absent in the C₆₀/TiO₂ system. Although fullerene and its derivatives have often been utilized in TiO₂‐based photochemical conversion systems as an electron transfer relay, their successful photocatalytic application as a visible‐light sensitizer of TiO₂ is not well established. Fullerol/TiO₂ exhibits marked visible photocatalytic activity not only for the redox conversion of 4‐chlorophenol, I^?, and Cr^VI, but also for H₂ production. The photoelectrode of fullerol/TiO₂ also generates an enhanced anodic photocurrent under visible light as compared with the electrodes of bare TiO₂ and C₆₀/TiO₂, which confirms that the visible‐light‐induced electron transfer from fullerol to TiO₂ is particularly enhanced. The surface complexation of fullerol/TiO₂ induced a visible absorption band around 400–500 nm, which was extinguished when the adsorption of fullerol was inhibited by fluorination of the surface of TiO₂. The transient absorption spectroscopic measurement gave an absorption spectrum ascribed to fullerol radical cations (fullerol^.+) the generation of which should be accompanied by the proposed CT. The theoretical calculation regarding the absorption spectra for the (TiO₂ cluster+fullerol) model also confirmed the proposed CT, which involves excitation from HOMO (fullerol) to LUMO (TiO₂ cluster) as the origin of the visible‐light absorption.     

Enhancement of the Photovoltaic Performance of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells through a Dichlorobenzene‐Functionalized Hole‐Transporting Material

A dichlorobenzene‐functionalized hole‐transporting material (HTM) is developed for a CH₃NH₃PbI₃‐based perovskite solar cell. Notwithstanding the similarity of the frontier molecular orbital energy levels, optical properties, and hole mobility between the functionalized HTM [a polymer composed of 2′‐butyloctyl‐4,6‐dibromo‐3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (TT‐BO), 3′,4′‐dichlorobenzyl‐4,6‐dibromo‐3‐fluorothieno[3,4‐b]thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (TT‐DCB), and 2,6‐bis(trimethyltin)‐4,8‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT‐EH), denoted PTB‐DCB21] and the nonfunctionalized polymer [a polymer composed of thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene (TT) and benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT), denoted PTB‐BO], a higher power conversion efficiency for PTB‐DCB21 (8.7 %) than that for PTB‐BO (7.4 %) is achieved because of a higher photocurrent and voltage. The high efficiency is even obtained without including additives, such as lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and/or 4‐tert‐butylpyridine, that are commonly used to improve the conductivity of the HTM. Transient photocurrent–voltage studies show that the PTB‐DCB21‐based device exhibits faster electron transport and slower charge recombination; this might be related to better interfacial contact through intermolecular chemical interactions between the perovskite and the 3,4‐dichlorobenzyl group in PTB‐DCB21.     

Electroluminescent properties of a partially‐conjugated hyperbranched poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)

In this paper, the electroluminescent properties of a new partially‐conjugated hyperbranched poly (p‐phenylene vinylene) (HPPV) were studied. The single layer light‐emitting device with HPPV as the emitting layer emits blue‐green light at 496 nm, with a luminance of 160 cd/m² at 9 V, a turn‐on voltage of 4.3 V and an electroluminescent efficiency of 0.028 cd/A. By doping an electron‐transport material [2‐(4‐biphenylyl)‐5‐phenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole, PBD] into the emitting layer and inserting a thin layer of tris(8‐hydroxy‐quinoline)aluminum (Alq₃) as electron transporting/hole blocking layer for the devices, the electroluminescent efficiency of 1.42 cd/A and luminance of 1700 cd/m² were achieved. The results demonstrate that the devices with the hyperbranched polymers as emitting material can achieve high efficiency through optimization of device structures. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

钌配合物敏化La3+掺杂纳米多孔TiO2电极的光电性能研究

在染料敏化太阳能电池中,TiO2膜和敏化剂决定着电池的总体效率和机械性能。本文以4-甲基吡啶为原料,经过偶联、氧化、配位和配体交换反应合成了cis-RuL2(SCN)2, (L=2,2’-联吡啶-4,4’-二羧酸),通过溶胶-凝胶法制备了TiO2膜。为了提高TiO2膜的光电性能,将不同浓度的La(NO3)3 (0.1%、0.3%、0.5%和0.7%) 加入到溶胶中,采用cis-RuL2(SCN)2将掺杂前后的TiO2膜进行敏化。利用X射线衍射仪、原子力显微镜和X射线光电子能谱对所得薄膜进行结构表征。结果表明,当La离子的浓度为0.5%时,太阳能电池的效率最高,短路电流和开路电压比未掺杂的分别提高了0.54 mA/cm2和30.41 mV。     

Hole‐transporting host‐polymer series consisting of triphenylamine basic structures for phosphorescent polymer light‐emitting diodes

A series of novel styrene derived monomers with triphenylamine‐based units, and their polymers have been synthesized and compared with the well‐known structure of polymer of N,N′‐bis(3‐methylphenyl)‐N,N′‐diphenylbenzidine with respect to their hole‐transporting behavior in phosphorescent polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs). A vinyltriphenylamine structure was selected as a basic unit, functionalized at the para positions with the following side groups: diphenylamine, 3‐methylphenyl‐aniline, 1‐ and 2‐naphthylamine, carbazole, and phenothiazine. The polymers are used in PLEDs as host polymers for blend systems with the following device configuration: glass/indium–tin–oxide/PEDOT:PSS/polymer‐blend/CsF/Ca/Ag. In addition to the hole‐transporting host polymer, the polymer blend includes a phosphorescent dopant [Ir(Me‐ppy)₃] and an electron‐transporting molecule (2‐(4‐biphenyl)‐5‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole). We demonstrate that two polymers are excellent hole‐transporting matrix materials for these blend systems because of their good overall electroluminescent performances and their comparatively high glass transition temperatures. For the carbazole‐substituted polymer (T_g = 246 °C), a luminous efficiency of 35 cd A^?1 and a brightness of 6700 cd m^?2 at 10 V is accessible. The phenothiazine‐functionalized polymer (T_g = 220 °C) shows nearly the same outstanding PLED behavior. Hence, both these polymers outperform the well‐known polymer of N,N′‐bis(3‐methylphenyl)‐N,N′‐diphenylbenzidine, showing only a luminous efficiency of 7.9 cd A^?1 and a brightness of 2500 cd m^?2 (10 V). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3417–3430, 2010     

Improved EL efficiency of fluorene‐thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐based conjugated copolymers with hole‐transporting or electron‐transporting units in the main chain

New electroluminescent polymers (poly(9,9′‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐co‐benzo[2,3,5]thiadiazole) ( P1) and poly(9,9′‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐co‐benzo[2,3,5]thiadiazole‐co‐[4‐(2‐ethylhexyloxyl)phenyl]diphenylamine ( P2) ) possess hole‐transporting or electron‐transporting units or both in the main chains. Electron‐deficient benzothiadiazole and electron‐rich triphenylamine moieties were incorporated into the polymer backbone to improve the electron‐transporting and hole‐transporting characteristics, respectively. P1 and P2 show greater solubility than poly(9,9′‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene ( PFTT ), without sacrificing their good thermal stability. Moreover, owing to the incorporation of the electron‐deficient benzothiadiazole unit, P1 and P2 exhibit remarkably lower LUMO levels than PFTT , and thus, it should facilitate the electron injection into the polymer layer from the cathode electrode. Consequently, because of the balance of charge mobility, LED devices based on P1 and P2 exhibit greater brightness and efficiency (up to 3000 cd/m² and 1.35 cd/A) than devices that use the pristine PFTT . © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 243–253, 2006     

Organic electroluminescent devices using organosilicon polymers containing phenylene or diethynylanthracene units

Double‐layer electroluminescent (EL) devices composed of an alternating polymer with mono‐, di‐, or tri‐silanylene and phenylene units, [(Si R) _m (C₆H₄)] _n (R = alkyl, m = 1–3) as a hole‐transporting layer, and tris(8‐quinolinolato)­aluminium(III) complex (Alq) as an electron‐transporting–emitting layer were fabricated. The longer silanylene chain lengths in the polymer, on going from m = 1 to m = 2 and 3, result in better electrical properties for the EL devices, implying that the σ–π conjugation in the polymers plays an important role in the hole‐transporting properties, including the hole‐injection efficiency from an anode. This is in marked contrast to the improved hole‐transporting properties that occur in response to reducing the silanylene chain length of silanylene‐diethynylanthracene polymers previously reported. The UV absorption maxima of silanylene‐phenylene polymers shift to longer wavelengths with increasing m, and their oxidation peak potentials in cyclic voltammograms shift to lower potential with increasing m, in accordance with the improved electrical properties of the device that are observed with the polymers containing the longer silanylene chain. A triple‐layer EL device with a hole‐transporting layer of monosilanylene‐diethynylanthracene polymer, an electron‐transporting–emitting layer of Alq, and an electron‐blocking layer of N,N′‐diphenyl‐N,N′‐bis(3‐methylphenyl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diamine (TPD) exhibited a maximum efficiency of 1.0 lm W⁻¹ and a maximum luminance of 14750 cd m⁻², both of which are much higher than the values obtained from a conventional EL device with TPD/Alq. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of a low‐band‐gap polymer consisting of alternating thiophene and benzothiadiazole derivatives for bulk‐heterojunction and dye‐sensitized solar cells

We synthesized a novel low‐band‐gap, conjugated polymer, poly[4,7‐bis(3′,3′‐diheptyl‐3,4‐propylenedioxythienyl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole] [poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT)], consisting of alternating electron‐rich, diheptyl‐substituted propylene dioxythiophene and electron‐deficient 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole units, and its photovoltaic properties were investigated. A thin film of poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT) exhibited an optical band gap of 1.55 eV. A bulk‐heterojunction solar cell with indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT): methanofullerene [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) (1:4)/LiF/Al was fabricated with poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT) as an electron donor and PCBM as an electron acceptor and showed an open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current density, and power conversion efficiency of 0.37 V, 3.15 mA/cm², and 0.35% under air mass 1.5 (AM1.5G) illumination (100 mW/cm²), respectively. A solid‐state, dye‐sensitized solar cell with a SnO₂:F/TiO₂/N3 dye/poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT)/Pt device was fabricated with poly(heptyl₄‐PTBT) as a hole‐transport material. This device exhibited a high power conversion efficiency of 3.1%, which is the highest power conversion efficiency value with hole‐transport materials in dye‐sensitized solar cells to date. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1394–1402, 2007     

Synthesis and Characterization of Donor–π‐Acceptor‐Based Porphyrin Sensitizers: Potential Application of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

New porphyrin sensitizers based on donor–π‐acceptor (D‐π‐A) approach have been designed, synthesized, characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and their photovoltaic properties explored. N,N′‐Diphenylamine acts as donor, the porphyrin is the π‐spacer, and either carboxylic acid or cyanoacryclic acid acts as acceptor. All compounds were characterized by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, UV–visible emission spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. The presence of aromatic groups between porphyrin π‐plane and acceptor group push the absorption of both Soret and Q‐bands of porphyrin towards the red region. The electrochemical properties suggests that LUMO of these sensitizers above the TiO₂ conduction band. Finally, the device was fabricated using liquid redox electrolyte (I^?/I₃^?) and its efficiency was compared with that of a leading sensitizer.     

Copolyphenylenes with pendant benzimidazolyl and diethanolaminohexyloxy groups: Synthesis and electron‐transporting application in PLEDs

Two new electron‐transporting copolyphenylenes P1NH and P2NH possessing balanced charges crucial to emission efficiency of polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) have been synthesized and applied as an electron‐transporting layer (ETL). The main chain structure is all para‐linkage for P1NH and both para‐ and meta‐linkage for P2NH , with the same pendant electron‐withdrawing benzimidazolyl and polar diethanolaminohexyloxy groups. Both copolymers possess excellent thermal stability (T _d > 300 °C, T _g > 100 °C) due to their rigid backbones. In addition, the pendant groups effectively lower LUMO (～ ?2.70 eV) and HOMO (～ ?5.70 eV) levels, resulting in improved electron‐transporting and hole‐blocking capabilities. Multilayer yellow‐emitting PLEDs with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/SY/ETL/LiF/Al were successfully fabricated by the spin‐coating process. The maximum luminance and maximum current efficiency of the P1NH ‐based device were 12,881 cd/m² and 10.94 cd/A, respectively, superior to the performance of P2NH ‐based device (4938 cd/m², 3.70 cd/A) and the device without ETL (8690 cd/m², 2.78 cd/A). Current results indicate that P1NH is highly effective in enhancing electron transport and device performance. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2494–2505     

Synthesis and photovoltaic investigation of dithieno[2,3‐d:2′,3′‐d′]‐benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′:5,6‐d″]trithiophene‐based conjugated polymer with an enlarged π‐conjugated system

Compared with benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′:5,6‐d″]trithiophene (BTT), an extended π‐conjugation fused ring derivative, dithieno[2,3‐d:2′,3′‐d′]benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′:5,6‐d″]trithiophene (DTBTT) has been designed and synthesized successfully. For investigating the effect of extending conjugation, two wide‐bandgap (WBG) benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT)‐based conjugated polymers (CPs), PBDT‐DTBTT, and PBDT‐BTT, which were coupled between alkylthienyl‐substituted benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene bistin (BDT‐TSn) and the weaker electron‐deficient dibromides DTBTTBr₂ and BTTBr₂ bearing alkylacyl group, were prepared. The comparison result revealed that the extending of conjugated length and enlarging of conjugated planarity in DTBTT unit endowed the polymer with a wider and stronger absorption, more ordered molecular structure, more planar and larger molecular configuration, and thus higher hole mobility in spite of raised highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level. The best photovoltaic devices exhibited that PBDT‐DTBTT/PC₇₁BM showed the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.73% with an open‐circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.82 V, short‐circuit current density (J_SC) of 6.29 mA cm^?2, and fill factor (FF) of 52.45%, whereas control PBDT‐BTT/PC₇₁BM exhibited a PCE of 1.98% under the same experimental conditions. The 38% enhanced PCE was mainly benefited from improved absorption, and enhanced hole mobility after the conjugated system was extended from BTT to DTBTT. Therefore, our results demonstrated that extending the π‐conjugated system of donor polymer backbone was an effective strategy of tuning optical electronic property and promoting the photovoltaic property in design of WBG donor materials.     

Thermally crosslinkable hole‐transporting poly(fluorene‐co‐triphenylamine) for multilayer polymer light‐emitting diodes

This article reports the synthesis and characterization of a novel thermally crosslinkable hole‐transporting poly (fluorene‐co‐triphenylamine) (PFO‐TPA) by Suzuki coupling reaction, followed with its application in the fabrication of multilayer light‐emitting diodes by wet processes. The thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of PFO‐TPA were investigated by differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, optical spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. Thermally crosslinked PFO‐TPA, through pendant styryl groups, demonstrates excellent thermal stability (T_d > 400 °C, T_g = 152 °C), solvent resistance, and film homogeneity. Its highest occupied molecular orbital level (?5.30 eV) lies between those of PEDOT:PSS (?5.0 ～ ?5.2 eV) and poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) (PFO: ?5.70 eV), forming a stepwise energy ladder to facilitate hole injection. Multilayer device with crosslinked PFO‐TPA as hole‐injection layer (HIL) (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/HIL/PFO/LiF/Ca/Al) was readily fabricated by successive spin‐coating processes, its maximum luminance efficiency (3.16 cd/A) were about six times higher than those without PFO‐TPA layer (0.50 cd/A). The result of hole‐only device also confirmed hole‐injection and hole‐transport abilities of crosslinked PFO‐TPA layer. Consequently, the device performance enhancement is attributed to more balanced charges injection in the presence of crosslinked PFO‐TPA layer. The thermally crosslinkable PFO‐TPA is a promising material for the fabrication of efficient multilayer polymer light‐emitting diodes because it is not only a hole‐transporting polymer but also thermally crosslinkable. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of conjugated D–A copolymers based on thienyl substituted pyrene and diketopyrrolopyrrole for polymer solar cells

A new donor‐acceptor conjugated copolymer (PDTPyDPP), comprising 2,7‐di‐2‐thienyl‐4,5,9,10‐tetrakis(hexyloxy)pyrene as a donor and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as an acceptor, was synthesized. PDTPyDPP showed good solubility in common organic solvents, broad visible absorption from 300 to 900 nm, and a moderate hole mobility up to 6.3 × 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1. The power conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic device based on the PDTPyDPP/PC₇₁BM photoactive layer reached 4.43% with 0.66 V of open‐circuit voltage (V_oc), 10.52 mA cm^?2 of short‐circuit current (J_sc) and 64.11% of fill factor. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3198–3204     

Incorporation of titanium dioxide particles into polymer matrix using block copolymer micelles for fabrication of high refractive and transparent organic–inorganic hybrid materials

We report a novel strategy for incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exploit high refractive and transparent organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Formation of TiO₂ particles of around 20 nm was conducted within hydrophilic core of block copolymer micelles of poly(methyl methacrylate‐block‐acrylic acid) (PMMA‐b‐PAA) in toluene via sol–gel process from titanium isopropoxide and hydrochloric acid. Subsequently, incorporation of TiO₂ particles into PMMA matrix was carried out by casting toluene solution of TiO₂ precursor‐loaded copolymer micelles, prepared from PMMA₃₅₀‐b‐PAA₉₃ and the precursor of mole ratio Ti⁴⁺/carboxyl 4.0, and PMMA. Hybrid films of TiO₂/PMMA exhibited high transparency to achieve transmission over 87% at 500 nm at 30 wt % of TiO₂ content. The refractive index of resulting hybrid films at 633 nm linearly increased with TiO₂ content to attain 1.579 at 30 wt % TiO₂, which was 0.1 higher than that of PMMA. Cross‐sectional transmission electron microscope images of TiO₂/PMMA hybrid films showed existence of TiO₂ clusters less than 100 nm, which were probably formed by aggregation or agglutination of TiO₂ particles during a drying process. It was also observed that decomposition temperature of the hybrid films elevated with increasing TiO₂ content. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

A New D–A conjugated polymer P(PTQD‐BDT) with PTQD acceptor and BDT donor units for BHJ polymer solar cells application

A novel donor–acceptor ( D–A ) copolymer comprising of weak electron donating BDT moiety and strong 9‐(2‐octyldodecyl)?8H‐pyrrolo[3,4‐b] bisthieno[2,3‐f:3',2'‐h] quinoxaline‐8,10(9H)‐dione (PTQD) unit denoted as P(PTQD‐BDT) was synthesized as donor material for polymer solar cells. P(PTQD‐BDT) shows a broad visible‐near‐infrared absorption band with an optical bandgap of 1.74 eV and possesses a relatively low‐lying HOMO level at ?5.28 eV. Bulk‐heterojunction polymer solar cell with the optimized blend of 1:2 (weight ratio) P(PTQD‐BDT):PC₇₁BM (processed with chloroform) shows an open circuit voltage of 0.92 V, a short circuit current density of 7.84 mA/cm², and a fill factor of 0.50, achieving a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.61%. The PCE has been further improved to 5.55 % (J_sc = 10.34 mA/cm², V_oc = 0.88V and FF = 0.61), when 3% v ol 1,8‐diio‐dooctane (DIO) was used as solvent additive for the processing of P(PTQD‐BDT):PC₇₁BM blended film. The enhancement in J_sc is as a result of the appropriate morphology and efficient exciton dissociation into free charge carrier. The increase in PCE has been attributed to the favorable nanoscale morphology for efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport (reduction in the electron to hole mobility ratio). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2390–2398