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Despite performance improvements of organic photovoltaics, the mechanism of photoinduced electron–hole separation at organic donor–acceptor interfaces remains poorly understood. Inconclusive experimental and theoretical results have produced contradictory models for electron–hole separation in which the role of interfacial charge-transfer (CT) states is unclear, with one model identifying them as limiting separation and another as readily dissociating. Here, polymer–fullerene blends with contrasting photocurrent properties and enthalpic offsets driving separation were studied. By modifying composition, film structures were varied from consisting of molecularly mixed polymer–fullerene domains to consisting of both molecularly mixed and fullerene domains. Transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that CT state dissociation generating separated electron–hole pairs is only efficient in the high energy offset blend with fullerene domains. In all other blends (with low offset or predominantly molecularly mixed domains), nanosecond geminate electron–hole recombination is observed revealing the importance of spatially localized electron–hole pairs (bound CT states) in the electron–hole dynamics. A two-dimensional lattice exciton model was used to simulate the excited state spectrum of a model system as a function of microstructure and energy offset. The results could reproduce the main features of experimental electroluminescence spectra indicating that electron–hole pairs become less bound and more spatially separated upon increasing energy offset and fullerene domain density. Differences between electroluminescence and photoluminescence spectra could be explained by CT photoluminescence being dominated by more-bound states, reflecting geminate recombination processes, while CT electroluminescence preferentially probes less-bound CT states that escape geminate recombination. These results suggest that apparently contradictory studies on electron–hole separation can be explained by the presence of both bound and unbound CT states in the same film, as a result of a range of interface structures.

In this report, we have studied the influence of the nature of the end groups (bromine or hydrogen) of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymers on the performance of polymer solar cells made with blend films of P3HT and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61(PCBM). Films and devices were studied before and after annealing at 140 °C for 2 h. The effects of the end-group type on the properties of pristine polymers and blend films were examined using optical absorption and emission spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and measurements of photovoltaic device performance. It was observed that hydrogen end groups result in slightly higher absorption coefficients, higher photoluminescence intensities, faster and less dispersive charge recombination, and superior solar cell performance (notably a higher fill factor) compared to bromine end groups. The results are attributed to more-ordered polymer-chain packing in blend films made with hydrogen-capped P3HT, on account of the smaller size and weaker electrostatic interactions resulting from hydrogen compared to bromine. Some influence of the C−Br group on exciton quenching may also be present. The effect of the bromine end group on solar-cell performance became more pronounced with reducing incident-light intensity. Comparison of the polymer transport characteristics in organic field-effect transistor configuration indicated that the bromine end group enhances hole trapping.

Thiophene‐containing polymers blended with fullerenes have recently demonstrated impressively high photovoltaic efficiencies. One drawback of this class of polymers is their relatively low ionization potential, which leads to rather low open‐circuit voltages. Polyterthiophenes belong to a material class that has recently captured a large amount of interest for polymer electronic applications because of its excellent transport properties. Because of the slightly lower ionization potential, this material class appears more attractive for photovoltaic applications than polythiophenes. In this work, the photovoltaic performance of bulk heterojunction solar cells from polyterthiophene/fullerene composites is discussed and compared to the polymer/fullerene blend morphology.

Polymers containing thiophene backbones have demonstrated the highest p-type field-effect mobility of any solution-processed polymer to date. One drawback of this class of polymers, however, is that they can possess a relatively low ionization potential, which, in the presence of oxygen, often results in spontaneous p-type doping. As a result, the transistor properties can change with time, leading to low current modulation caused by high off currents. In this work, we have explored strategies to chemically modify the thiophene backbone structure, which leads to changes in both the backbone conformation and microstructure as well as the electronic energy levels of the molecular orbitals. A series of terthiophene polymers were synthesized, and their physical and electrical properties reported. The effects of changes in molecular structure on transistor performance and air stability are discussed.

Chloroform is a general solvent for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) active layers in field-effect transistors. However, its low boiling point and rapid evaporation limit the time for crystallization during the spin-coating process, and field-effect mobilities achieved for P3HT films spin-coated from chloroform are typically on the order of 0.01 cm²/(V s). Here we investigate a range of solvents with higher boiling points. We find that 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene with good solubility and a high boiling point significantly improves the field-effect mobilities up to 0.12 cm²/(V s) with on:off ratios of 10⁶. By controlling the microstructure through the choice of solvent while keeping the molecular weight fixed, we observe a clear correlation between the field-effect mobility and the degree of microcrystalline order as measured by X-ray diffraction, as well as the strength of polaronic relaxation of charge carriers in the accumulation layer as measured by optical spectroscopy of field-induced charge.

Organic electronic devices comprising arrays of organic field effect transistors (OFETs) are expected to create a range of novel applications for which the ability to be fabricated in large areas, on flexible substrates, with nonconventional shapes, and at low cost are key enabling factors. To improve the electrical performance of such devices, new solution processable organic semiconductors are required with high charge carrier mobilities and environmental stability. This work describes the molecular design of a p-type charge transport liquid crystalline polymer, in an attempt to control the factors responsible for both mobility and stability. Molecules were designed that were able to exhibit closely packed, π stacked morphologies, which can result in efficient intermolecular charge hopping and hence high mobility. Molecular manipulation of the conjugated π electron system was required to optimize the HOMO energy level, to both resist oxidation and be able to readily accept holes from a source electrode.

4-Hexylbithienopyridine has been prepared as a novel electron-accepting monomer for conjugated polymers. To test its electronic properties, alternating copolymers with fluorene and indenofluorene polymers have been prepared. The copolymers displayed reduction potentials about 0.5 V lower than for the corresponding fluorene and indenofluorene homopolymers, indicating much improved electron-accepting properties. Analysis of the microscopic morphology of thin films of the copolymers by AFM shows that they lack the extensive supramolecular order seen with the homopolymers, which is attributed to the bithienopyridine units disrupting the π-stacking. LEDs using these polymers as the emitting layer produce blue-green emission with low turn-on voltages with aluminum electrodes confirming their improved electron affinity. The indenofluorene copolymer displayed an irreversible red shift in emission at high voltages, which is attributed to oxidation of the indenofluorene units. This red shift occurred at higher potentials than for indenofluorene homopolymers in LEDs, suggesting that the heterocyclic moieties offer some protection against electrically promoted oxidation.

We determine the bounday of the fully polarized ferromagnetic states in the one dimensional Kondo lattice model at partial conduction electron band filling by using a newly developed infinite size DMRG method which conserves the total spin quantum numbers. The obtained paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase bounday is bellow J ≍ 3.5 for the whole range of band filling. By this we solve the controversy in the phase diagram over the extent of the ferromagnetic region close to half filling.

A series of side chain liquid crystalline polymers based on a polystyrene backbone has been synthesized and characterized for non-linear optical applications.