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

这个5年综合职业规划的中心主题是推进用于高效光伏电池的新型聚合物领域的研究和教育。建立在PI之上？鉴于之前在光伏应用新聚合物的设计、合成和表征方面取得的成功，本CAREER提案总结了理想聚合物的设计标准。为了进一步提高聚合物光伏器件的效率，2)提出了基于PI？3)将对所选聚合物进行深入系统的研究，以测试和丰富所提出的设计母题。一个软弱的捐赠者？强受体模块化方法将用于构建共聚物，目的是降低带隙，同时调节HOMO/LUMO能级。供体部分包含扩展的偶联，这将促进ð？不同聚合物链之间的相互作用，以提高载流子迁移率。一系列具有不同吸电子能力的受体也将被制备成聚合物的其他构件。将探索具有可调带隙和能级的新聚合物库。此外，PI将开始全面的设备优化，包括退火，添加添加剂，使用界面层。此外，PI将对这些结构相关聚合物中的激子行为进行基础研究（例如激子解离，重组和扩散），这将为为什么某些聚合物比其他聚合物更好提供更有见地的信息。最后，阐明的机理将有助于未来新材料的设计。总结了太阳能电池理想聚合物的设计标准，特别是提出的设计基序，将通过合理的设计加速新的和更好的聚合物材料的发现。将开发新的化学和新型高分子材料。这项研究可能会带来高效率、价格合理、制造成本低的太阳能电池，这将对快速增长的太阳能电池市场产生巨大影响。非技术概要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。将教育和外展与研究相结合是拟议工作的关键特征。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。与会者将有一个独特的机会参与到聚合物基太阳能电池发展的许多关键方面。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，到设备制造和评估。通过与“气候飞跃”合作，并为“科学360”创建新项目，PI将制作多媒体内容，并开展能源教育演讲和活动，以接触更多的高中学生和教师，以及公众。所有这些活动都将提高公众对当前严重的能源问题的认识，并将公众的注意力引向以可再生能源（太阳能）为动力的可持续未来。

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.