EAGER/RUI: Vertically Aligned Bulk Heterojunctions by Combining Screen Printing and Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Processing

EARLY概念探索性研究补助金（EAGER）奖提供资金，以评估通过结合丝网印刷和溶致液晶加工生产垂直对齐的块状异质结的可行性。拟议的研究包括与这种液晶打印相关的三个关键方面。首先，将共轭聚合物化学接枝到无机纳米线上，合成新型的核壳杂化纳米线。研究了棒状杂化物的溶致液晶行为随浓度、溶剂和温度的变化。其次，将进行流变测试以优化液晶油墨的配方，从而在丝网印刷过程中实现适当的对准。特别是，对可印刷纳米线油墨的粘度、触变性和粘弹性的研究将指导丝网印刷用于高通量生产的进一步发展。第三，将以良好控制的方式开发用于生产液晶油墨的垂直对准的本体异质结的丝网印刷工艺。将建立工艺-结构-性能的相关性，以优化材料性能。如果成功，这项研究的结果将导致一个新的范例的创建，这将对太阳能设备的生产产生深远的影响。垂直取向的体异质结是高效混合光伏电池所需的理想形态和结构。本研究开发的液晶印刷新方法对于制造大规模，高性价比，高性能的聚合物基混合光伏电池具有重要意义，这将彻底改变可再生能源发电。对加工-结构-性质相关性的可靠分析将为优化可用于各种能量产生和转换系统的新型多功能纳米材料提供基础。这个跨学科的奖项为纳米材料、液晶、聚合物、有机电子、涂料和图形印刷领域做出了贡献。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award provides funding to evaluate the feasibility of producing vertically aligned bulk heterojunctions by combining screen-printing and lyotropic liquid crystal processing. The proposed research includes three key aspects related to this liquid crystalline printing. First, novel core-shell hybrid nanowires will be synthesized by chemically grafting conjugated polymers onto inorganic nanowires. Lyotropic liquid crystalline behaviors of the resulting rod-like hybrids will be determined with variations of concentration, solvent and temperature. Second, rheological tests will be performed to optimize formulation of liquid crystalline ink for appropriate alignment during the screen-printing process. In particular, studies on viscosity, thixotropy and viscoelasticity of printable nanowire ink will guide further development of screen-printing for high throughput production. Third, processes of screen-printing for producing vertically aligned bulk heterojunctions of liquid crystal ink will be developed in a well-controlled manner. The processing-structure-property correlations will be established to optimize the materials properties. If successful, the results of this research will lead to the creation of a new paradigm, which will have a profound impact on the production of solar energy devices. The vertically aligned bulk heterojunction is an ideal morphology and structure required for high efficiency hybrid photovoltaic cells. The new approach of the liquid crystalline printing developed in this research will be of significant importance for the manufacture of large-scale, cost-effective, high-performance polymer-based hybrid photovoltaic cells that would revolutionize renewable energy generation. A reliable analysis of the processing-structure-property correlations will provide a foundation for the optimization of new multifunctional nanomaterials that can be utilized in various energy generation and conversion systems. This interdisciplinary award makes contributions to the fields of nanomaterials, liquid crystals, polymers, organic electronics, coatings, and graphic printing.