Solar cells are fairly inefficient, with maximum quantum efficiencies for single junction cells reaching no greater than 30%. Triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion, which transforms lower energy photons to higher energy photons, could be used to improve the efficiency of current photovoltaic cells by harvesting sub-band gap photons in the near-infrared and infrared spectra and upconverting them to band gap photons with wavelengths in the ultraviolet or visible range. However, current photovoltaic technology requires use of solid-state materials, a property lacking in most triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion systems due to the mechanistic need for diffusion of components. This research aims to investigate diffusion-independent triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion by controlled spacing of chromophores through post-polymerization modification of copolymers with modification sites set apart by inert spacer monomers. It will be demonstrated that intra-chain fluorescence quenching dominates in polymers with greater numbers of chromophores, but the effect can be reduced depending on the spacer monomer.

Post-modified copolymers with controlled inter-chromophore spacing for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.