Using Self-Organization to Control Nanometer-Scale Architecture in Semiconducting Polymer-Based Solar Cells

在这个由化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，加州大学洛杉矶分校的Sarah Tolbert、Yves Rubin和Benjamin Schwartz将开发富勒烯衍生物和共轭聚合物溶液相自组装成有机太阳能电池薄膜的方法。 这项研究有三个相辅相成的组成部分。 在第一部分，研究将集中在使用分子组装在自互补富勒烯衍生物，以优化网络结构，提高电子迁移率。 在第二部分中，半导体聚合物中的载流子迁移率将被检查和优化，这次使用两亲性半导体聚合物在水溶液中的自组装。最后，为了便于使用高迁移率的电子受体，如二氧化钛，富勒烯与表面结合基团的制备和太阳能电池的性能，将纳入纳米结构的二氧化钛覆盖富勒烯单层进行了研究。更广泛的影响包括培训研究生和本科生，通过召集合作小组来加强研究基础设施，举办关于太阳能电池/太阳能的高中教师研讨会，以及廉价有机光伏器件的潜在社会效益。由导电塑料制成的太阳能电池显示出巨大的技术前景，但在处理效率低和不可再现性方面存在显着缺点。 这项研究旨在通过提高我们对如何整合各种有机化合物以捕获光并将其转化为电能的基本理解来解决其中的一些问题。 具体的重点是找到强大的方法来创建纳米尺寸的结构，可以有效地发电，然后将电力从太阳能电池中传输出来供使用。 通过开发新的化学成分和加工策略，这项研究可能会导致更容易生产和更便宜的太阳能电池技术。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Sarah Tolbert, Yves Rubin, and Benjamin Schwartz of the University of California at Los Angeles will develop methods for the solution-phase self-assembly of fullerene derivatives and conjugated polymers into films for organic solar cells. The research has three complementary components. In the first part, the research will focus on the use of molecular assembly in self-complementary fullerene derivatives to optimize network architecture for increased electron mobility. In the second part, carrier mobility in the semiconducting polymer will be examined and optimized, this time using self-assembly of amphiphilic semiconducting polymers in aqueous solution. Finally, to facilitate the use of high mobility electron acceptors such as titania, fullerenes with surface binding groups will be prepared and the performance of solar cells incorporating nanostructured titania covered with fullerene monolayers will be studied. The broader impacts involve training graduate and undergraduate students, enhancing research infrastructure by bringing together a collaborative group, conducting high school teacher workshops on solar cells/solar energy, and the potential societal benefits of inexpensive organic photovoltaic devices.Solar cells made from electrically conducting plastics show great technological promise but have significant drawbacks in terms of low efficiencies and irreproducibility in processing. This research seeks to solve some of those problems by enhancing our fundamental understanding of how to integrate various organic compounds to capture light and turn it into electrical energy. The specific focus is to find robust ways to create nanometer sized structures that can efficiently generate electricity and then transport that electricity out of the solar cell for usage. Through development of new chemical components and processing strategies, this research could lead to easier to produce and less expensive solar cell technologies.