Conjugated polymers with polar side chains in bulk heterojunction solar cell devices

Two polymers with polar side chains, namely poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene)‐alt‐5,5‐(5',8'‐di‐2‐thienyl‐(2',3'‐bis(3''‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)phenyl)quinoxaline))] ( P1 ) and poly[2,7‐(9,9‐bis(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl)fluorene)‐alt‐5,5‐(5',8'‐di‐2‐thienyl‐(2',3'‐bis(3''‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)‐ethoxy)phenyl)quinoxaline))] ( P2 ), were synthesized for solar cell application. A series of bulk heterojunction solar cells were systematically fabricated and characterized by varying the electron‐acceptor materials, processing solvents and thickness of the active layer. The results show that P1 , with a higher molecular weight and good film‐forming properties, performed better. The best device showed an open circuit voltage of 0.87 V, a short circuit current of 6.81 mA cm^?2 and a power conversion efficiency of 2.74% with 1:4 polymer:[6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM[70]) mixture using o‐dichlorobenzene (o‐DCB) as processing solvent. P2 on the other hand showed a poorer performance with chlorobenzene as processing solvent, but a much improved performance was obtained using o‐DCB instead. Thus, an open circuit voltage of 0.80 V, short circuit current of 6.21 mA cm^?2 and an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.22% were recorded for a polymer:PCBM[70] mixing ratio of 1:4. This is presumably due to the improvement of the morphology of the active layer using o‐DCB as processing solvent. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Temperature and electric field dependent hole mobility in a polyfluorene copolymer

Transport of holes in thin films of a low-bandgap alternating polyfluorene copolymer, APFO-Green5, was investigated by means of admittance spectroscopy as a function of field and temperature. The values of hole mobility were evaluated from the position of the maxima in the plots of the negative differential susceptance as a function of frequency. Hole mobility was found to be strongly field- and temperature-dependent. The charge transport parameters were extracted by analyzing the mobility data by the uncorrelated and the correlated Gaussian Disorder Models.     

A New Donor–Acceptor–Donor Polyfluorene Copolymer with Balanced Electron and Hole Mobility

A new alternating polyfluorene copolymer poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dioctylfluoren)‐alt‐5,5‐(5′,8′‐di‐2‐thienyl‐(2′,3′‐bis‐(3′′‐octyloxyphenyl)‐quinoxaline))] (APFO‐15), which has electron donor–acceptor–donor units in between the fluorene units, is synthesized and characterized. This polymer has a strong absorption and emission in the visible range of the solar spectrum. Its electroluminescence and photoluminescence emissions extend from about 560 to 900 nm. Moreover, solar cells with efficiencies in excess of 3.5 % have been realized from blends of APFO‐15 and an electron acceptor molecule, a methanofullerene [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). It has also been observed that electron and hole transport is balanced both in the pure polymer phase and in polymer/PCBM bulk heterojunction films, which makes this material quite attractive for applications in opto‐electronic devices.     

Leather processing in Ethiopia and Kenya: lessons from India

This article discusses the successful value-added chain within India's leather industry, and then draws contrasts with the evolution of the leather products industries of Kenya and Ethiopia. Much of India's success derives from the ability of its stakeholders—from government to industry—to set their own policies and priorities regarding the development of the leather industry. The fact that India selectively liberalized the entry of a variety of industries into the global economy added to the improved performance of its leather products sub-sector. By contrast, both Ethiopia and Kenya followed different policies regarding liberalization, with differing results. Although the leather industry is important for both countries, moving up the value-added chain remains tenuous at best for Kenya and only slightly better for Ethiopia. This article recommends that both countries need to formulate and implement policies that will move the leather industry from raw and semi-processed production outward to the leather products and leather goods sub-sectors.     

New low band gap alternating polyfluorene copolymer-based photovoltaic cells

New low band gap alternating polyfluorene copolymers were synthesized for use in plastic solar cells and their optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic characteristics were determined. These polymers incorporated fluorene units alternating with groups including electron-withdrawing (A) and electron-donating (D) groups in donor–acceptor–donor (DAD) sequence to achieve the lowering of band gaps. The HOMO–LUMO values were estimated from electrochemical studies. By varying the donor and acceptor strength and position of the solubilizing substituents, similar HOMO values were obtained. These values were also found to correlate well with the open circuit voltage (V_OC) values determined from photovoltaic data of the polymers blended with the acceptor PCBM. Despite similar HOMO values, the absorption spectra of the polymers differ significantly. This prompted the preparation of photovoltaic devices consisting of blends of two polymers with complementary absorptions in combination with PCBM to harvest more photons in the polymer solar cells.     

Using social indicators to predict addiction

Because of cost and other constraints, states often find it difficult to estimate need for treatment of alcohol-related problems from routine surveys. The social undesirability of illegal drug use makes the assessment of need for treatment of their use even more difficult. This paper uses independently obtained treatment need estimates to provide parameters for short-term prediction. We obtained the parameters by regressing the proportions of people addicted to alcohol (or drugs) in counties on social-indicator-based relative treatment need estimates for alcohol (or drugs). In addition to integrating estimates coming from independent sources, our approach presents an important tool for planning and resource allocation.     

Recent Advances in n‐Type Polymers for All‐Polymer Solar Cells

All‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) based on n‐ and p‐type polymers have emerged as promising alternatives to fullerene‐based solar cells due to their unique advantages such as good chemical and electronic adjustability, and better thermal and photochemical stabilities. Rapid advances have been made in the development of n‐type polymers consisting of various electron acceptor units for all‐PSCs. So far, more than 200 n‐type polymer acceptors have been reported. In the last seven years, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of all‐PSCs rapidly increased and has now surpassed 10%, meaning they are approaching the performance of state‐of‐the‐art solar cells using fullerene derivatives as acceptors. This review discusses the design criteria, synthesis, and structure–property relationships of n‐type polymers that have been used in all‐PSCs. Additionally, it highlights the recent progress toward photovoltaic performance enhancement of binary, ternary, and tandem all‐PSCs. Finally, the challenges and prospects for further development of all‐PSCs are briefly considered.     

Efficient Near‐Infrared Electroluminescence at 840 nm with “Metal‐Free” Small‐Molecule:Polymer Blends

Due to the so‐called energy‐gap law and aggregation quenching, the efficiency of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) emitting above 800 nm is significantly lower than that of visible ones. Successful exploitation of triplet emission in phosphorescent materials containing heavy metals has been reported, with OLEDs achieving remarkable external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) up to 3.8% (peak wavelength > 800 nm). For OLEDs incorporating fluorescent materials free from heavy or toxic metals, however, we are not aware of any report of EQEs over 1% (again for emission peaking at wavelengths > 800 nm), even for devices leveraging thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). Here, the development of polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) peaking at 840 nm and exhibiting unprecedented EQEs (in excess of 1.15%) and turn‐on voltages as low as 1.7 V is reported. These incorporate a novel triazolobenzothiadiazole‐based emitter and a novel indacenodithiophene‐based transport polymer matrix, affording excellent spectral and transport properties. To the best of knowledge, such values are the best ever reported for electroluminescence at 840 nm with a purely organic and solution‐processed active layer, not leveraging triplet‐assisted emission.