Organic photovoltaic (OPV) has been intensively investigated over the last decades as it represents an intriguing alternative for electrical power generation [1]. Water-processable polymer-based nanoparticles (WPNPs) received considerable attention in the OPV field because their morphology can be modulated in order to optimize the interpenetrating electron donor/acceptor networks, and thus to improve device performance [2]. Moreover, WPNPs dispersion can be obtained through miniemulsion method using a great amount of surfactants. This approach makes it possible to replace toxic and harmful halogenated organic solvents with environmentally sustainable ones in the active layer fabrication, but surfactants display an insulating behaviour and have to be removed at the end of the process [3]. Recently, our research group developed the preparation of polymer-based colloidal suspensions through miniemulsion approach using amphiphilic rod-coil block copolymers (ABCPs), bearing a rigid block (a p-type semiconducting polymer) and a hydrophilic flexible segment. The ABCPs are able to self-assemble without use of surfactants generating organized nanostructures under specific conditions [4]. We synthesized an ABCP series, PCPDTBT-b-P4VP, constituted by a low band gap copolymer PCPDTBT as rod, and tailored segments of poly-4-vinylpyridine (P4VP) as hydrophilic coil block. Furthermore, we investigated their ability to form WPNPs dispersion in aqueous medium through miniemulsion approach, neat or in blend with fullerene derivatives, without use of surfactants avoiding purification steps. The so-obtained WPNPs were optically, morphologically and electrically characterized and were tested as active layer in sustainable polymeric solar cells, obtaining a proof of concept for this original approach [5]. On these bases, our future perspectives are to develop new series of WPNPs based on other polymeric rods in order to enhance the solar radiation absorption and consequently the efficiency of the devices. Particularly, we synthetized a new rod-coil polymer, PTB7-b-P4VP, and NMR, MALDI, SEC and spectroscopic analysis are being carried out. We will study their capacity to self-assemble in aqueous medium to produce WPNPs with miniemulsion approach and suitable for the preparation of active layer in efficient OPV cells. Keywords: organic photovoltaic; rod-coil; nanoparticles; water-processable; miniemulsion References [1] F. Marchui, D. Lenssen, M. Legros, S. Nordman, F. C. Krebs, Energy Environ. Sci., 7, 2792 (2014) [2] N. P. Holmes, X. Zhou, M. R. Andersson, P. C. Dastoor, Nano Energy, 19, 495 (2016) [3] S. Zhang, L. Ye, H. Zhang, J. Hou, Materials Today, 19, 533 (2016) [4] S. Zappia, R. Mendichi, S. Battiato, G. Scavia, R. Mastria, F. Samperi, S. Destri, Polymer, 80, 245 (2015) [5] S. Zappia, G. Scavia, A.M. Ferretti, U. Giovanella, V. Vohra, S. Destri, Adv Sustainable. Syst., 2, 1700155 (2018)
WATER-PROCESSABLE BLEND NANOPARTICLES FOR SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS
M Diterlizzi;S Zappia;S Destri
2019
Abstract
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) has been intensively investigated over the last decades as it represents an intriguing alternative for electrical power generation [1]. Water-processable polymer-based nanoparticles (WPNPs) received considerable attention in the OPV field because their morphology can be modulated in order to optimize the interpenetrating electron donor/acceptor networks, and thus to improve device performance [2]. Moreover, WPNPs dispersion can be obtained through miniemulsion method using a great amount of surfactants. This approach makes it possible to replace toxic and harmful halogenated organic solvents with environmentally sustainable ones in the active layer fabrication, but surfactants display an insulating behaviour and have to be removed at the end of the process [3]. Recently, our research group developed the preparation of polymer-based colloidal suspensions through miniemulsion approach using amphiphilic rod-coil block copolymers (ABCPs), bearing a rigid block (a p-type semiconducting polymer) and a hydrophilic flexible segment. The ABCPs are able to self-assemble without use of surfactants generating organized nanostructures under specific conditions [4]. We synthesized an ABCP series, PCPDTBT-b-P4VP, constituted by a low band gap copolymer PCPDTBT as rod, and tailored segments of poly-4-vinylpyridine (P4VP) as hydrophilic coil block. Furthermore, we investigated their ability to form WPNPs dispersion in aqueous medium through miniemulsion approach, neat or in blend with fullerene derivatives, without use of surfactants avoiding purification steps. The so-obtained WPNPs were optically, morphologically and electrically characterized and were tested as active layer in sustainable polymeric solar cells, obtaining a proof of concept for this original approach [5]. On these bases, our future perspectives are to develop new series of WPNPs based on other polymeric rods in order to enhance the solar radiation absorption and consequently the efficiency of the devices. Particularly, we synthetized a new rod-coil polymer, PTB7-b-P4VP, and NMR, MALDI, SEC and spectroscopic analysis are being carried out. We will study their capacity to self-assemble in aqueous medium to produce WPNPs with miniemulsion approach and suitable for the preparation of active layer in efficient OPV cells. Keywords: organic photovoltaic; rod-coil; nanoparticles; water-processable; miniemulsion References [1] F. Marchui, D. Lenssen, M. Legros, S. Nordman, F. C. Krebs, Energy Environ. Sci., 7, 2792 (2014) [2] N. P. Holmes, X. Zhou, M. R. Andersson, P. C. Dastoor, Nano Energy, 19, 495 (2016) [3] S. Zhang, L. Ye, H. Zhang, J. Hou, Materials Today, 19, 533 (2016) [4] S. Zappia, R. Mendichi, S. Battiato, G. Scavia, R. Mastria, F. Samperi, S. Destri, Polymer, 80, 245 (2015) [5] S. Zappia, G. Scavia, A.M. Ferretti, U. Giovanella, V. Vohra, S. Destri, Adv Sustainable. Syst., 2, 1700155 (2018)I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
