Thermally Cleavable Dyads for Organic Photovoltaic Donor-Acceptor Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic photovoltaic cells face limitations in conversion efficiency due to phase segregation of donor and acceptor compounds during manufacturing and inadequate separation, leading to unwanted recombination of electrons and holes, as well as high production costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of dyad compounds with a chemical bond that is cleaved to control the arrangement and interspacing of donors and acceptors in the photoactive layer, such as fullerene anthracen-2-ylmethyl 3-(thiophen-3-yl) acetate dyads, which are deposited and then thermally cleaved to facilitate desired interfaces and prevent recombination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If blends of polymeric donor compounds and fullerene acceptor compounds are used to form the photoactive layer, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but phase segregation occurs during manufacturing preventing desirable intimate mixing of donors and acceptors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the donor and acceptor compounds into separate monomer units that are co-polymerized to form a single polymeric dyad structure. This segmentation allows each component to be precisely positioned within the polymer chain, ensuring intimate mixing at the molecular level while avoiding phase segregation during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the donor and acceptor monomers into a single copolymer structure where both components are covalently bonded within the same polymer chain. This merging ensures that donors and acceptors remain intimately mixed throughout the photoactive layer, preventing phase segregation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If dyad compounds with both acceptor moieties and donor moieties are used, then intimate mixing is achieved, but insufficient separation leads to unwanted recombination of electrons and holes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating distinct regions within the polymer structure: donor-rich segments for efficient charge generation and acceptor-rich segments for efficient charge separation. The controlled interspacing ensures that while donors and acceptors are intimately mixed at the molecular level, they maintain sufficient local separation to prevent recombination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the dyad compound by controlling the length and chemical nature of the spacer groups between donor and acceptor moieties. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient separation distance to prevent electron-hole recombination while maintaining intimate mixing for efficient light absorption and charge generation.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex synthesis of dyad compounds is performed, then controlled arrangement and interspacing of donors and acceptors is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs self-service by designing monomers with built-in spacer groups that automatically provide the desired interspacing when co-polymerized. The polymerization process itself creates the controlled arrangement and separation, eliminating the need for complex post-synthesis modification steps and reducing overall production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-designing the monomer structures with appropriate spacer groups and functional groups that will automatically achieve the desired controlled arrangement and interspacing during the polymerization process. This preliminary structural design simplifies the overall synthesis pathway and reduces manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells by ensuring optimal donor-acceptor separation and arrangement, reducing recombination and lowering production costs through controlled synthesis and processing.
Implementation Method 1
Once deposited, cleaving the chemical bond of the dyad between the first moiety that provides the donor and the second moiety that provides the acceptor controls arrangement and interspacing of the donor and the acceptor relative to one another
Implementation Method 2
When photons are absorbed, photo-induced electron transfers take place from the donors to the acceptors leading to electron-hole pairs that can be harnessed to generate the electricity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, compositions and devices relate to photovoltaic cells having a photoactive layer and constituents synthesized and utilized for the photoactive layer. The photovoltaic cells incorporate photoactive materials produced from dyads formed into an initial layer and then thermally cleaved to provide the photoactive layer. Cleavage of the dyads, such as synthesized fullerene anthracen-2-ylmethyl 3-(thiophen-3-yl) acetate dyads, or polymers of the dyads into separate molecules providing donors and acceptors facilitates in obtaining the photovoltaic cells with desired arrangement and interspacing of the donors and the acceptors relative to one another.