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Structure-Function Relationships in Solution-Processable, Molecular Semiconductors

0801627_2009_brightnugget

Solution processed small molecule devices

Projects:
IGERT: ConvEne--Conversion of Energy Through Molecular...
Institution:
University of California at Santa Barbara
Primary Strategic Goal:
Discovery: Foster research that will advance the frontiers of knowledge, emphasizing areas of greatest opportunity and potential benefit and establishing the Nation as a global leader in fundamental transformational science and engineering.
Secondary Strategic Goal:
Research Infrastructure: Build the Nation's research capability through critical investments in advanced instrumentation, facilities, cyber infrastructure, and experimental tools.

Achievement/Results

There are many interdisciplinary groups within the ConvEne IGERT exploring soluble small molecule (SM) semiconductors as alternatives to polymers in opto-electronic applications including solar cells and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Although polymers generally have better film-forming properties, SMs offer significant advantages in terms of synthesis and purification costs. By systematically varying molecular structures and processing conditions, it has been possible to identify structures and conditions which lead to films with exceptional optical, electronic and morphological properties, yielding solar cells and LEDs with efficiencies approaching the best polymer-based systems.

Address Goals

The development of cheaper, more efficient solar cells is widely appreciated as a major goal, and the US is already the leader in this field. The following ConvEne IGERT faculty: Craig Hawker, Fred Wudl, Quyen Nguyen, Guillermo Bazan, and Alan Heeger (winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry) contribute to these efforts. Many world leaders in the area have been trained at UCSB and this training continues into the IGERT program. In addition, world class infrastructure in organic photovoltaics has been established at UCSB.

Posted By:
Ram Seshadri
Posted:
November 19, 2009