The efficiency of polymer/fullerene bulk-hetero-junction (BHJ) photovoltaics is highly sensitive to the nanoscale structure in a device. In this talk we examine ways to control the architecture in polymer/fullerene blends using non-covalent intermolecular interactions.  Two primary methods we employ revolve around molecular self-assembly and sequential processing.  In sequential processing, a film with a nearly ideal architecture is first deposited from only one component of the BHJ composite.  The second component is then diffused into the network, preserving the initial nanoscale architecture.  Here we will examine the key parameters important for controlling that network architecture.  Self-assembly provides an alternative method to control structure.  We use either molecular self-complementarity or amphiphilic interactions to drive structure formation.  Model systems include stacking fullerenes and semiconducting polymers that can form cylindrical micelles in water.  These polymers can be paired with amphiphilic fullerene derivatives to create water-soluble polymer/fullerene assemblies that show a range of exciting phenomena.  Novel properties include ultra-fast excited-state electron transfer in solution, the formation of long-lived charge separated species, and solution phase photochromism.

Nanostructured organic donor/acceptor assemblies for application in solar energy harvesting

247th National Meeting (2014)

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