CAREER: Search for Ideal Polymers for Highly Efficient Organic Solar Cells

技术总结这个5年综合职业计划的中心主题是推进高效光伏电池用新型聚合物领域的研究和教育。 建立在PI？的先前成功的设计，合成和表征的新聚合物的光伏应用，这个职业生涯的建议1）总结了设计标准？理想？聚合物，以进一步提高效率的聚合物光伏器件，2）提出了一个设计主题的基础上PI？3）将对选定的聚合物进行深入和系统的研究，以测试和丰富拟议的设计主题。 一个虚弱的捐赠者？将使用强受体模块化方法来构建共聚物，目的是降低带隙并同时调谐HOMO/LUMO能级。 供体部分含有扩展的共轭，这将促进的共轭？抑制不同聚合物链之间的相互作用以提高电荷载流子迁移率。 一系列具有不同吸电子能力的受体也将被制备作为聚合物的另一个构建单元。 将探索具有可调带隙和能级的新聚合物库。 此外，PI将开始全面的器件优化，包括退火，应用添加剂和采用界面层。 此外，PI将对这些结构相关的聚合物中的激子行为进行基础研究（例如激子解离，复合和扩散），这应该提供关于为什么某些聚合物比其他聚合物更好的更有见地的信息。 最后，阐明的机制将有助于未来的新材料的设计。 总结了太阳能电池理想聚合物的设计准则，特别是提出的设计主题，将通过合理的设计促进新的和更好的聚合物材料的发现。 将开发新的化学和新的聚合物材料。 这项研究可能会导致高效，廉价，低制造成本的太阳能电池，其影响将是巨大的快速增长的太阳能电池市场。 非技术总结聚合物太阳能电池研究的跨学科性质将影响更广泛的学科，包括合成有机和聚合物化学，物理化学，材料科学和工程。 将教育和外联与研究相结合是拟议工作的主要特点。 特别鼓励代表性不足的群体，特别是妇女和少数民族，通过上述方案参与拟议的研究。 参与者将有一个独特的机会参与聚合物基太阳能电池开发的许多关键方面。 学生将接受跨学科的培训，从有机和聚合物材料的开发和表征，设备制造和评估。 通过与Climate LEAP的合作以及为Science 360创建新的项目，PI将制作多媒体内容并开展能源教育演示和活动，以接触更多的高中学生和教师以及公众。 所有这些活动将提高公众对当前严重能源问题的认识，并引导公众关注可再生（太阳能）能源驱动的可持续未来。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe central theme of this 5-year integrated career plan is to advance the research and education in the area of novel polymers for highly efficient photovoltaic cells. Built upon the PI?s previous successes in the design, synthesis and characterization of new polymers for photovoltaic applications, this CAREER proposal 1) summarizes the design criteria for ?ideal? polymers to further improve the efficiency of polymer PV devices, 2) proposes a design motif based on the PI?s previous systematic study, and 3) will conduct an in-depth and systematic study of selected polymers to test and enrich the proposed design motif. A weak donor ? strong acceptor modular approach to construct copolymers will be used with the intention of lowering the band gap and simultaneously tuning the HOMO/LUMO energy levels. The donor moieties contain extended ð conjugation, which will promote the ð?ð interaction between different polymer chains to improve the charge carrier mobility. A series of acceptors with different electron-withdrawing ability will also be prepared as the other building block for the polymers. A library of new polymers with tunable band gaps and energy levels will be explored. In addition, the PI will start a comprehensive device optimization including annealing, applying additives, and employing interfacial layer. Furthermore, the PI will carry on fundamental studies of exciton behaviors in these structurally related polymers (e.g. exciton dissociation, recombination and diffusion), which should provide more insightful information about why certain polymers are better than others. Finally, the elucidated mechanism will assist future design of new materials. The summarized design criteria of ideal polymers for solar cells, in particular, the proposed design motif, will expedite the discovery of new and better polymeric materials through rational design. New chemistry and novel polymeric materials will be developed. This research can potentially lead to highly efficient, affordable solar cells with low manufacturing cost, whose impact would be tremendous to the fast-growing market of solar cells. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe interdisciplinary nature of this research on polymer solar cells will impact a wider range of disciplines, including synthetic organic and polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, materials sciences and engineering. Integration of education and outreach with research is the key feature of the proposed work. Underrepresented groups, specifically women and minorities, are particularly encouraged to participate in the proposed research through aforementioned programs. Participants will have a unique opportunity to involve in many key aspects of the development of polymer based solar cells. Students will receive interdisciplinary training, from organic and polymeric materials development and characterization, to device fabrication, and evaluation. Through partnership with Climate LEAP and creating new programs for Science 360, the PI will produce multimedia content and conduct energy education presentations and activities, so as to reach out more high school students and teachers, and the general public. All these activities will increase the public awareness of current serious energy issues, and direct public attention to a sustainable future powered by renewable (solar) energies.