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Novel High Efficient Organic Photovoltaic MaterialsSolar energy is a renewable, nonpolluting, and most abundant energy source for human exploration of a remote site or outer space. In order to generate appreciable electrical power in space or on the earth, it is necessary to collect sunlight from large areas and with high efficiency due to the low density of sunlight. Future organic or polymer (plastic) solar cells appear very attractive due to their unique features such as light weight, flexible shape, tunability of energy band-gaps via versatile molecular or supramolecular design, synthesis, processing and device fabrication schemes, and much lower cost on large scale industrial production. It has been predicted that supramolecular and nano-phase separated block copolymer systems containing electron rich donor blocks and electron deficient acceptor blocks may facilitate the charge carrier separation and migration due to improved electronic ultrastructure and morphology in comparison to polymer composite system. This presentation will describe our recent progress in the design, synthesis and characterization of a novel block copolymer system containing donor and acceptor blocks covalently attached. Specifically, the donor block contains an electron donating alkyloxy derivatized polyphenylenevinylene (RO-PPV), the acceptor block contains an electron withdrawing alkyl-sulfone derivatized polyphenylenevinylene (SF-PPV). The key synthetic strategy includes the synthesis of each individual block first, then couple the blocks together. While the donor block has a strong PL emission at around 560 nm, and acceptor block has a strong PL emission at around 520 nm, the PL emissions of final block copolymers are severely quenched. This verifies the expected electron transfer and charge separation due to interfaces of donor and acceptor nano phase separated blocks. The system therefore has potential for variety light harvesting applications, including high efficient photovoltaic applications.
Document ID
20030063086
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Abstract
Authors
Sun, Sam
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Haliburton, James
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Wang, Yi-Qing
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Fan, Zhen
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Taft, Charles
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Maaref, Shahin
(Norfolk State Univ. VA, United States)
Bailey, Sheila
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: HBCUs/OMUs Research Conference Agenda and Abstracts
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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