Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-28-2021

Abstract

The current state of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices involve series of small molecular or polymeric systems that can absorb light from the solar spectrum in concert with another material that acts as an acceptor material. Together these materials serve to generate and split bound excitation species then transport the separate charges to their respected electrode. Several limitations have restricted the widescale use of these materials. Since these devices have their genesis in organic materials the OPV devices inherit short exitonic lifetimes, narrow absorption window and a lack of precise control over the morphology. To overcome these limitations, additional molecular engineering into either materials to increase the exitonic lifetimes, better tune the energy levels to promote a better splitting of exitonic species, tune the energy levels to widen the absorption window and to engineer the molecule to increase the crystallinity and promote a better morphology. In this dissertation, various steps were taken to engineer in the before mentioned possible solutions to the limitations of the organic based photovoltaics. The design process starts with the inclusion of a Pt (II) atom, which allows for the introduction of a square planar heavy atom. This was done to introduce long lived triplet based excitonic species to help overcome the organic materials native short-lived exciton. A roller wheel type molecule was chosen to help with the crystallinity of the donor material. Additional work was done in respects to the sidechain, in both length and position. Length is important to increase the overall yield in the syntheses of these materials where position of the side chain was hoped to further increase the crystallinity of the donor material. Further engineering of the material was planned to replace the expensive heavy metal atom with a cheaper more tunable organic alternative in the form of a carbazole subunit.

Language

English

Keywords

OPVs, Heavy atoms, singlets and triplets, side chain engineering, crystallinity, small molecules

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Jeremy S. Edwards

Second Committee Member

Jeffrey Rack

Third Committee Member

Yi He

Fourth Committee Member

Yang Qin

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