Research

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16 pages, 5634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Photovoltaic Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells by Employing Bathocuproine/Hydrophobic Polymer Films as Hole-Blocking/Electron-Transporting Interfacial Layers

by Guan-Zhi Liu, Chi-Shiuan Du, Jeng-Yue Wu, Bo-Tau Liu, Tzong-Ming Wu, Chih-Feng Huang and Rong-Ho Lee

Polymers 2021, 13(1), 42; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13010042 - 24 Dec 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3239

Abstract

In this study, we improved the photovoltaic (PV) properties and storage stabilities of inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) by employing bathocuproine (BCP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and BCP/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as hole-blocking and electron-transporting interfacial layers. The architecture [...] Read more.

In this study, we improved the photovoltaic (PV) properties and storage stabilities of inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) by employing bathocuproine (BCP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and BCP/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as hole-blocking and electron-transporting interfacial layers. The architecture of the PVSCs was indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate/MAPbI₃/[6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester/BCP based interfacial layer/Ag. The presence of PMMA and PVP affected the morphological stability of the BCP and MAPbI₃ layers. The storage-stability of the BCP/PMMA-based PVSCs was enhanced significantly relative to that of the corresponding unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Moreover, the PV performance of the BCP/PVP-based PVSCs was enhanced when compared with that of the unmodified BCP-based PVSC. Thus, incorporating hydrophobic polymers into BCP-based hole-blocking/electron-transporting interfacial layers can improve the PV performance and storage stability of PVSCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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9 pages, 3905 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Terpyridine End-Modified Polystyrenes through ATRP for Facile Construction of Metallo-Supramolecular P3HT-b-PS Diblock Copolymers

by Tsung-Han Tu and Yi-Tsu Chan

Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2842; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12122842 - 29 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

Complementary complexation between 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy) and 6,6″-dianthracenyl-substituted tpy in the presence of Zn(II) ions provided an efficient strategy for construction of metallo-supramolecular diblock copolymers. To synthesize well-defined tpy-modified polystyrenes (PSs), an Fe(II) bis(tpy) complex bearing α-bromoester as a metallo-initiator was applied to atom [...] Read more.

Complementary complexation between 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy) and 6,6″-dianthracenyl-substituted tpy in the presence of Zn(II) ions provided an efficient strategy for construction of metallo-supramolecular diblock copolymers. To synthesize well-defined tpy-modified polystyrenes (PSs), an Fe(II) bis(tpy) complex bearing α-bromoester as a metallo-initiator was applied to atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to avoid poisoning the Cu(I) catalyst. Subsequently, a series of tpy-functionalized PSs was obtained after the decomplexation of <tpy-Fe(II)-tpy> junction by tetrakis(triethylammonium) ethylenediaminetetraacetate (TEA-EDTA) under mild conditions. The metallo-supramolecular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-block-PS diblock copolymers were prepared by simply mixing the corresponding terminally tpy-modified homopolymers with Zn(II) ions, and further characterized by ¹H NMR and diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) experiments. The approach using metallo-initiators for ATRP offers an opportunity to construct tpy-functionalized polymers with controllable molecular weights and low polydispersities. Through the spontaneous heteroleptic complexation, a variety of metallo-supramolecular diblock copolymers with tunable block ratios can be easily constructed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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18 pages, 7855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrosynthesis and Electrochromism of a New Crosslinked Polydithienylpyrrole with Diphenylpyrenylamine Subunits

by Yu-Ruei Kung, Sin-Yun Cao and Sheng-Huei Hsiao

Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2777; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12122777 - 24 Nov 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2553

Abstract

A new electroactive monomer with two 2,5-di(2-thienyl)pyrrole (SNS) units and one diphenylpyrenylamine (DPPA) subunit, namely N,N-bis(4-(2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-phenyl)-1-aminopyrene (DPPA-2SNS), was synthesized from 1,4-di-(2-thienyl)butane-1,4-dione with N,N-di(4-aminophenyl)-1-aminopyrene through the Paal–Knorr condensation reaction. Visible and near-infrared (NIR) electrochromic polymer films [...] Read more.

A new electroactive monomer with two 2,5-di(2-thienyl)pyrrole (SNS) units and one diphenylpyrenylamine (DPPA) subunit, namely N,N-bis(4-(2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-phenyl)-1-aminopyrene (DPPA-2SNS), was synthesized from 1,4-di-(2-thienyl)butane-1,4-dione with N,N-di(4-aminophenyl)-1-aminopyrene through the Paal–Knorr condensation reaction. Visible and near-infrared (NIR) electrochromic polymer films could be facilely generated on the ITO-glass surface by the electrochemical polymerization of DPPA-2SNS in an electrolyte solution. The electro-synthesized polymer films exhibit multi-staged redox processes and multi-colored anodic electrochromic behavior. A multi-colored electrochromism, with yellowish orange, greyish blue, and purplish black colors, was observed in the polymer film by applying a positive potential. The polymer films exhibit reasonable coloration efficiency, fast response time, and good cycling stability, especially when switched between neutral and the first oxidation states. For comparison, N-(1-pyrenyl)-2,5-di(2-thienyl)pyrrole (Py-SNS) was also prepared and characterized with electrochemical and electro-optical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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17 pages, 6497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multifunctional Hypercrosslinked Porous Organic Polymers Based on Tetraphenylethene and Triphenylamine Derivatives for High-Performance Dye Adsorption and Supercapacitor

by Mohamed Gamal Mohamed, Ahmed. F. M. EL-Mahdy, Tso-Shiuan Meng, Maha Mohamed Samy and Shiao-Wei Kuo

Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2426; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102426 - 21 Oct 2020

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5011

Abstract

We successfully prepared two different classes of hypercrosslinked porous organic polymers (HPPs)—the tetraphenylethene (TPE) and (4-(5,6-Diphenyl-1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)-triphenylamine (DPT) HPPs—through the Friedel−Crafts polymerization of tetraphenylethene and 4-(5,6-diphenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-triphenylamine, respectively, with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene (Ph-2Cl) in the presence of anhydrous FeCl₃ as a catalyst. Our porous materials exhibited [...] Read more.

We successfully prepared two different classes of hypercrosslinked porous organic polymers (HPPs)—the tetraphenylethene (TPE) and (4-(5,6-Diphenyl-1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)-triphenylamine (DPT) HPPs—through the Friedel−Crafts polymerization of tetraphenylethene and 4-(5,6-diphenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-triphenylamine, respectively, with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene (Ph-2Cl) in the presence of anhydrous FeCl₃ as a catalyst. Our porous materials exhibited high BET surface areas (up to 1000 m² g⁻¹) and good thermal stabilities. According to electrochemical and dyes adsorption applications, the as-prepared DPT-HPP exhibited a high specific capacitance of 110 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹, with an excellent cycling stability of over 2000 times at 10 A g⁻¹. In addition, DPT-HPP showed a high adsorption capacity up to 256.40 mg g⁻¹ for the removal of RhB dye from water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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10 pages, 4205 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Complementary Color Tuning by HCl via Phosphorescence-to-Fluorescence Conversion on Insulated Metallopolymer Film and Its Light-Induced Acceleration

by Shunichi Kaneko, Hiroshi Masai, Takuya Yokoyama, Maning Liu, Yasuhiro Tachibana, Tetsuaki Fujihara, Yasushi Tsuji and Jun Terao

Polymers 2020, 12(1), 244; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010244 - 20 Jan 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3548

Abstract

An insulated metallopolymer that undergoes phosphorescence-to-fluorescence conversion between complementary colors by an acid-stimulus is proposed as a color-tunable material. A Pt-based phosphorescent metallopolymer, where the conjugated polymeric backbone is insulated by a cyclodextrin, is depolymerized by HCl via acidic cleavage of Pt-acetylide bonds [...] Read more.

An insulated metallopolymer that undergoes phosphorescence-to-fluorescence conversion between complementary colors by an acid-stimulus is proposed as a color-tunable material. A Pt-based phosphorescent metallopolymer, where the conjugated polymeric backbone is insulated by a cyclodextrin, is depolymerized by HCl via acidic cleavage of Pt-acetylide bonds to form a fluorescent monomer. The insulation enables phosphorescence-to-fluorescence conversion to take place in the solid film. Rapid color change was achieved by accelerating the reaction between the metallopolymer and HCl by UV irradiation. These approaches are expected to provide new guidelines for the development of next-generation color-tunable materials and printable sensors based on precise molecular engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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11 pages, 2870 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Light Down-Converter Based on Luminescent Nanofibers from the Blending of Conjugated Rod-Coil Block Copolymers and Perovskite through Electrospinning

by Dai-Hua Jiang, Saburo Kobayashi, Chih-Chun Jao, Yoshinobu Mato, Takuya Isono, Yu-Han Fang, Chun-Che Lin, Toshifumi Satoh, Shih-Huang Tung and Chi-Ching Kuo

Polymers 2020, 12(1), 84; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010084 - 03 Jan 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3701

Abstract

We demonstrated a novel strategy for the preparation of light down-converter by combining rod-coil block copolymers with perovskite quantum dots (QDs) through electrospinning. Reports have shown that polymer deformability can be enhanced by incorporating a soft segment and controlled by varying the rod/coil [...] Read more.

We demonstrated a novel strategy for the preparation of light down-converter by combining rod-coil block copolymers with perovskite quantum dots (QDs) through electrospinning. Reports have shown that polymer deformability can be enhanced by incorporating a soft segment and controlled by varying the rod/coil ratio. Therefore, we first synthesized the rod-coil block copolymer through the click reaction of polyfluorene (PF) and poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBA). Next, the CsPbBr₃@PF_8k-b-PBA_12k composite fibers were fabricated by blending perovskite through electrospinning. Optical spectral evidence demonstrated the success of the strategy, as light down-converters were prepared through the controlled variance of QD/polymer ratios to achieve tunable color and stretchability. This result reveals the potential of using rod-coil block copolymers to fabricate color-tunable perovskite light down-converters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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11 pages, 3407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers Containing B←N Bonds with Strong Electron Affinity and Extended Absorption

by Bo Pang, Zhonghai Tang, Yongchun Li, Huifeng Meng, Ying Xiang, Yuqing Li and Jianhua Huang

Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1630; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11101630 - 09 Oct 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2856

Abstract

The B←N is isoelectronic to the C–C, with the former having stronger dipole moment and higher electron affinity. Replacing the C–C bonds in conjugated polymers with B←N bonds is an effective pathway toward novel polymers with strong electron affinity and adjustable optoelectronic properties. [...] Read more.

The B←N is isoelectronic to the C–C, with the former having stronger dipole moment and higher electron affinity. Replacing the C–C bonds in conjugated polymers with B←N bonds is an effective pathway toward novel polymers with strong electron affinity and adjustable optoelectronic properties. In this work, we synthesize a conjugated copolymer, namely, BNIDT-DPP, based on a B←N embedded unit, BNIDT, and a typical electron-deficient unit, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP). For comparison, the C–C counterpart, i.e., IDT-DPP, is also synthesized. In contrast to IDT-DPP, the B←N embedded polymer BNIDT-DPP shows an extended absorption edge (836 versus 978 nm), narrowed optical bandgap (1.48 versus 1.27 eV), and higher electron affinity (3.54 versus 3.74 eV). The Gaussian simulations reveal that the B←N embedded polymer BNIDT-DPP is more electron-deficient in contrast to IDT-DPP, supporting the decreased bandgap and energy levels of BNIDT-DPP. Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) tests indicate a well-defined p-type characteristic for both IDT-DPP and BNIDT-DPP. The hole mobilities of IDT-DPP and BNIDT-DPP tested by OTFTs are 0.059 and 0.035 cm²/V·s, respectively. The preliminary fabrication of all-polymer solar cells based on BNIDT-DPP and PBDB-T affords a PCE of 0.12%. This work develops a novel B←N embedded polymer with strong electron affinity and extended absorption, which is potentially useful for electronic device application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 6685 KiB

Open AccessReview

Conjugated Copolymers through Electrospinning Synthetic Strategies and Their Versatile Applications in Sensing Environmental Toxicants, pH, Temperature, and Humidity

by Loganathan Veeramuthu, Manikandan Venkatesan, Fang-Cheng Liang, Jean-Sebastien Benas, Chia-Jung Cho, Chin-Wen Chen, Ye Zhou, Rong-Ho Lee and Chi-Ching Kuo

Polymers 2020, 12(3), 587; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12030587 - 05 Mar 2020

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5467

Abstract

Conjugated copolymers (CCPs) are a class of polymers with excellent optical luminescent and electrical conducting properties because of their extensive π conjugation. CCPs have several advantages such as facile synthesis, structural tailorability, processability, and ease of device fabrication by compatible solvents. Electrospinning (ES) [...] Read more.

Conjugated copolymers (CCPs) are a class of polymers with excellent optical luminescent and electrical conducting properties because of their extensive π conjugation. CCPs have several advantages such as facile synthesis, structural tailorability, processability, and ease of device fabrication by compatible solvents. Electrospinning (ES) is a versatile technique that produces continuous high throughput nanofibers or microfibers and its appropriate synchronization with CCPs can aid in harvesting an ideal sensory nanofiber. The ES-based nanofibrous membrane enables sensors to accomplish ultrahigh sensitivity and response time with the aid of a greater surface-to-volume ratio. This review covers the crucial aspects of designing highly responsive optical sensors that includes synthetic strategies, sensor fabrication, mechanistic aspects, sensing modes, and recent sensing trends in monitoring environmental toxicants, pH, temperature, and humidity. In particular, considerable attention is being paid on classifying the ES-based optical sensor fabrication to overcome remaining challenges such as sensitivity, selectivity, dye leaching, instability, and reversibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers for Electro-Optical Applications)

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