CRC: Using Self-Organization to Control Morphology in Semiconducting Polymers

该奖项支持本杰明·J·施瓦茨、伊夫·F·鲁宾和萨拉·H·托尔伯特合作开发用于光伏的功能聚合物复合材料。该项目采用三种互补的方法来控制共轭聚合物的形态，从而实现有效的电荷分离和电连续。第一种方法将利用相反电荷的聚合物和富勒烯衍生物之间的静电相互作用来控制共轭聚合物/富勒烯共混物中的相分离。第二种方法将使用包含在周期性纳米多孔无机骨架中的半导体聚合物给体，该骨架起到电子受体的作用。第三种方法将利用自组装技术，利用新型的两亲性共轭聚合物直接形成纳米周期共轭聚合物/电子受体网络。共轭聚合物是一种将半导体的光学和电学性能与塑料的加工优势和机械性能相结合的新型材料。这一组特性可以导致改进的光电子器件和潜在的低成本、高效的太阳能电池。该项目由化学合作研究计划(CRC)资助，为本科生和研究生提供了在有机和无机合成化学、物理性质测量以及设备开发和测试方面的绝佳机会。该团队还在洛杉矶的公立高中开展了一项强有力的外展计划。

This award supports the collaborative efforts of Benjamin J. Schwartz, Yves F. Rubin and Sarah H. Tolbert to develop functional polymer composite materials for photovoltaics. This project takes three complementary approaches to control the conjugated polymer morphology leading to efficient charge separation and electrical continuity. The first approach will control phase segregation in conjugated polymer/fullerene blends using electrostatic interactions between oppositely-charged polymers and fullerene derivatives. The second approach will use a semiconducting polymer donor contained within a periodic nanoporous inorganic framework that functions as the electron acceptor. The third approach will use self-assembly to directly create nanoperiodic conjugated polymer/electron-acceptor networks using novel amphiphilic conjugated polymers. Conjugated polymers are novel materials combining the optical and electrical properties of semiconductors with the processing advantage and mechanical properties of plastics. This set of properties can lead to improved optoelectronic devices and potentially low-cost, efficient solar cells. This project is funded through the Collaborative Research in Chemistry Program (CRC) and provides outstanding opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students in organic and inorganic synthetic chemistry, physical properties measurements, and device development and testing. The team also has a strong outreach program to public high schools in Los Angeles.