Conjugated polymers have been the cornerstone of organic electronics, with applications in areas such as photovoltaics, field effect transistors, and electrochromics. Specifically, polymer based solar cells have generated significant attention due to the promise of a lightweight, flexible, and inexpensive solar energy conversion platform. However, a number of challenges are still apparent, including, accessibility, scalability and efficiency. Our related efforts have focused on novel, simplified polymer and device architectures and synthetic methods. Specifically, we have spent significant effort focusing on scalability of polymer synthesis, which is best embodied in our work on Direct Arylation Polymerization (DArP), which is a C-H activation route to the synthesis of conjugated polymers. In this case, the identification of defects and their elimination via optimization of polymerization conditions has been the central focus of our work. Efforts toward oxidative direct arylation, or halogen-free polymerization, will also be discussed along with results focused toward the replacement of Palladium with inexpensive first row transition metals such as Copper. Our work on ternary blend solar cells will also be discussed, focusing on how proper selection of components in ternary blends can lead to a synergistic enhancement of properties without increasing the complexity of device fabrication. Here our development of the organic alloy model will be discussed in relation to the influence of polymer blending on the open circuit voltage in ternary blend solar cells. Finally, efforts toward the synthesis of non-conjugated electroactive polymers will be introduced.

Reimagining semiconducting polymers for alternative energy applications

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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