| 1. |
- Acker, Pascal, et al.
(author)
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π-Conjugation Enables Ultra-High Rate Capabilities and Cycling Stabilities in Phenothiazine Copolymers as Cathode-Active Battery Materials
- 2019
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In: Advanced Functional Materials. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1616-301X .- 1616-3028. ; 29:45
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In recent years, organic battery cathode materials have emerged as an attractive alternative to metal oxide–based cathodes. Organic redox polymers that can be reversibly oxidized are particularly promising. A drawback, however, often is their limited cycling stability and rate performance in a high voltage range of more than 3.4 V versus Li/Li+. Herein, a conjugated copolymer design with phenothiazine as a redox‐active group and a bithiophene co‐monomer is presented, enabling ultra‐high rate capability and cycling stability. After 30 000 cycles at a 100C rate, >97% of the initial capacity is retained. The composite electrodes feature defined discharge potentials at 3.6 V versus Li/Li+ due to the presence of separated phenothiazine redox centers. The semiconducting nature of the polymer allows for fast charge transport in the composite electrode at a high mass loading of 60 wt%. A comparison with three structurally related polymers demonstrates that changing the size, amount, or nature of the side groups leads to a reduced cell performance. This conjugated copolymer design can be used in the development of advanced redox polymers for batteries.
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| 2. |
- Benatto, L., et al.
(author)
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Comparing C-60 and C-70 as acceptor in organic solar cells : Influence of the electronic structure and aggregation size on the photovoltaic characteristics
- 2020
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In: Thin Solid Films. - : Elsevier. - 0040-6090 .- 1879-2731. ; 697
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The difference in aggregation size of the C-60 and C-70 fullerenes affect the photovoltaic performance of devices assembled in the so-called bilayer architecture with poly [2,7-(9,9- dioctyl- dibenzosilole)- alt-4,7- bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzo- 2,1,3- thiadiazole] (PSiF-DBT) as the electron donor material. Despite the better performance of the C-70 devices, which is related to the high absorption coefficient in the visible range and the superior charge transport properties, the short-circuit current variation upon annealing treatment at 100 degrees C is approximately twice bigger when the C-60 is the acceptor. We attribute this effect to the tendency of C-60 in form smaller aggregate domains relatively to the C-70. The increased roughness on the polymeric surface after annealing results in an enhanced donor/acceptor contact area and assists the fullerene diffusion deeper inside the polymeric layer. This effect leads to a better mixing between donor and acceptor species and create a interpenetrating layer close to the so-called bulk heterojunction. Since C-60 forms smaller aggregates, this mechanism is more pronounced for this molecule. Therefore, a significant variation in the performance of the C-60 devices is observed after this kind of treatment. Density Functional Theory calculations of the potential energy of interaction between two fullerene molecules and X-Ray measurements gives evidences to support this idea. In addition, combining spectrally resolved external quantum efficiency measurements with optical modeling our results also indicate the occurrence of the bilayer interfacial mixing for PSiF-DBT/C-60.
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| 3. |
- Benatto, L., et al.
(author)
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Understanding the effect of solvent additive in polymeric thin film : turning a bilayer into a bulk heterojunction-like photovoltaic device
- 2020
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In: Journal of Physics D. - : IOP Publishing. - 0022-3727 .- 1361-6463. ; 53:36
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Here we report the effect of an additive solvent, 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO), on the performance of a bilayer organic photovoltaic device in which the active layer comprises poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(2 ethylhexyl)-dibenzosilole)-alt-4,7-bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazole] (PSiF-DBT) as the electron donor material and C60 as the electron acceptor material. We observed that when the donor layer was treated with 1% of DIO the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device increased by 138.4% in relation to the device with an untreated donor layer, and 21.3% in relation to the device containing a donor layer submitted to thermal annealing. The main effects that lead to this increase in PCE are the large interfacial area between donor and acceptor materials and the improved conductivity at low voltages. The increase in polymer surface roughness leads to a more effective PSiF-DBT/C60 interface for exciton dissociation. This effect, as well as the increase in the conductivity, raised the short circuit current density (JSC) to 13.89 mA cm−2 and the PCE to 4.84%. Our conclusions are supported by morphological analysis, chemical cross-sectional evaluations with advanced microscopy techniques, charge mobility measurements, as well as by theoretical simulations of the devices in which the changes on the donor/acceptor interfacial area were considered. The outcomes suggest that solvent additives could be an alternative treatment to replace the thermal annealing, which imposes further difficulties in performing lab-to-manufacturing upscaling.
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| 4. |
- Chen, Qiaonan, 1992, et al.
(author)
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Effects of Flexible Conjugation-Break Spacers of Non-Conjugated Polymer Acceptors on Photovoltaic and Mechanical Properties of All-Polymer Solar Cells
- 2022
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In: Nano-Micro Letters. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2311-6706 .- 2150-5551. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Highlights: A series of non-conjugated acceptor polymers with flexible conjugation-break spacers (FCBSs) of different lengths were synthesized.The effect of FCBSs length on solubility of the acceptor polymers, and their photovoltaic and mechanical properties in all-polymer solar cells were explored.This work provides useful guidelines for the design of semiconducting polymers by introducing FCBS with proper length, which can giantly improved properties that are not possible to be achieved by the state-of-the-art fully conjugated polymers. Abstract: All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) possess attractive merits including superior thermal stability and mechanical flexibility for large-area roll-to-roll processing. Introducing flexible conjugation-break spacers (FCBSs) into backbones of polymer donor (PD) or polymer acceptor (PA) has been demonstrated as an efficient approach to enhance both the photovoltaic (PV) and mechanical properties of the all-PSCs. However, length dependency of FCBS on certain all-PSC related properties has not been systematically explored. In this regard, we report a series of new non-conjugated PAs by incorporating FCBS with various lengths (2, 4, and 8 carbon atoms in thioalkyl segments). Unlike common studies on so-called side-chain engineering, where longer side chains would lead to better solubility of those resulting polymers, in this work, we observe that the solubilities and the resulting photovoltaic/mechanical properties are optimized by a proper FCBS length (i.e., C2) in PA named PYTS-C2. Its all-PSC achieves a high efficiency of 11.37%, and excellent mechanical robustness with a crack onset strain of 12.39%, significantly superior to those of the other PAs. These results firstly demonstrate the effects of FCBS lengths on the PV performance and mechanical properties of the all-PSCs, providing an effective strategy to fine-tune the structures of PAs for highly efficient and mechanically robust PSCs.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]
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| 5. |
- Damas, Giane, et al.
(author)
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On the Design of Donor Acceptor Conjugated Polymers for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction : First-Principles Theory-Based Assessment
- 2018
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 122:47, s. 26876-26888
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A set of fluorene-based polymers with a donor acceptor architecture has been investigated as a potential candidate for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. A design protocol has been employed based on first -principles theory and focusing on the following properties: (i) broad absorption spectrum to promote a higher number of photogenerated electron hole pairs, (ii) suitable redox potentials, and (iii) appropriate reaction thermodynamics using the hydrogen -binding energy as a descriptor. We have found that the polymers containing a fused -ring acceptor formed by benzo(triazole-thiadiazole) or benzo(triazole-selenodiazole) units display a suitable combination of such properties and stand out as potential candidates. In particular, PFO-DSeBTrT (poly (9,9'-dioctylfluorene)-2,7-diyl-alt-(4,7-bis(thien-2y1)-2-dodecyl-benzo-(1,2c:4,5c')-1,2,3-triazole-2,1,3-selenodiazole)) has an absorption maximum at around 950 nm for the highest occupied molecular orbital lowest unoccupied molecular orbital transition, covering a wider range of solar emission spectrum, and a reduction catalytic power of 0.78 eV. It also displays a calculated hydrogen -binding free energy of Delta G(H) = 0.02 eV, which is lower in absolute value than Furthermore, the results and trends analysis provide guidance for the rational design of novel photo-electrocatalysts. that of Pt (Delta G(H) approximate to -0.10 eV).
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| 6. |
- Marchiori, Cleber F.N., et al.
(author)
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Predicting Structure and Electrochemistry of Dilithium Thiophene-2,5-Dicarboxylate Electrodes by Density Functional Theory and Evolutionary Algorithms
- 2019
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 123:8, s. 4691-4700
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic electroactive materials are promising candidates to be TUC used as lithium insertion electrodes in the next generation of environmentally friendly battery technologies. In this work, evolutionary algorithms at interplay with density functional theory calculations have been employed to predict the crystal structure for both delithiated and lithiated phases of dilithium thiophene dicarboxylate (Li2TDC). On the basis of the resulting crystals, electronic structure modifications and voltage profiles for the lithiation process have been calculated. The obtained structure for the delithiated phase showed a well-defined salt layer intercalating the organic components, forming a so-called lithium organic framework (LOF). Upon lithiation, new structures appear which deviate from the LOF as a consequence of the reduction of the S atoms, which coordinate with the additional Li ions. The calculated average potential of similar to 1.00 V vs Li/Li+ is found to be in good agreement with experimental findings. An additional study at the molecular level has also been conducted aiming at gaining insight into the importance of the crystallographic environment on the structural and thermodynamics properties. This strategy is suitable for an initial assessment of the electrochemical process that underlies the lithiation mechanism of electrode materials. Moreover, the employed evolutionary algorithm emerges as a promising tool to predict crystal structures during lithiation, which are otherwise difficult to resolve experimentally.
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| 7. |
- Marchiori, Cleber F.N., et al.
(author)
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Tuning the photocatalytic properties of porphyrins for hydrogen evolution reaction : An in-silico design strategy
- 2022
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In: Journal of Power Sources Advances. - Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier. - 2666-2485. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Porphyrins constitute a class of attractive materials for harvesting sunlight and promote chemical reactions following their natural activity for the photosynthetic process in plants. In this work, we employ an in-silico design strategy to propose novel porphyrin-based materials as photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). More specifically, a set of meso-substituted porphyrins with donor-acceptor architecture are evaluated within the density functional theory (DFT) framework, according to these screening criteria: i) broad absorption spectrum in the ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and near infrared (NIR) range, ii) suitable redox potentials to drive the uphill reaction that lead to molecular hydrogen formation, iii) low exciton binding free energy (Eb), and iv) low hydrogen binding free energy (ΔGH), a quantity that should present low HER overpotentials, ideally ΔGH = 0. The outcomes indicate that the Se-containing compound, where the donor ligands are attached to the porphyrin core by the spacer, outstands as the most promising candidate that is presented in this work. It displays a broad absorption in the visible and NIR regions to up to 1000 nm, suitable catalytic power, low Eb (in special in high dielectric constant environment, such as water) and the lowest ΔGH = +0.082 eV. This is comparable, in absolute values, to the value exhibited by platinum (ΔGH = −0.10 eV), one of the most efficient catalysts for HER.
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| 8. |
- Pereira de Carvalho, Rodrigo, et al.
(author)
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Structure-property relationships in organic battery anode materials : exploring redox reactions in crystalline Na- and Li-benzene diacrylate using combined crystallography and density functional theory calculations
- 2021
-
In: Materials Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2633-5409. ; 2:3, s. 1024-1034
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organic-based materials are potential candidates for a new generation of sustainable and environmentally friendly battery technologies, but insights into the structural, kinetic and thermodynamic properties of how these compounds lithiate or sodiate are currently missing. In this regard, benzenediacrylates (BDAs) are here investigated for application as low-potential electrodes in Na-ion and Li-ion batteries. Aided by a joint effort of theoretical and experimental frameworks, we unveil the structural, electronic and electrochemical properties of the Na(2)BDA and Li(2)BDA compounds. The crystal structure of these systems in their different sodiated and lithiated phases have been predicted by an evolutionary algorithm interplayed with density functional theory calculations. Due to difficulties in obtaining useful single crystals for the BDA salts, other methods have been explored in combination with the computational approach. While the predicted structure of the pristine Na(2)BDA compound has been experimentally confirmed through the 3D Electron Diffraction (3DED) technique, the hydrated version of Li(2)BDA is analysed through single crystal X-ray diffraction. The calculated cell voltages for the sodiation (0.63 V vs. Na/Na+) and lithiation (1.12 V vs. Li/Li+) processes display excellent quantitative agreement with experimental findings. These results validate the developed theoretical methodology. Moreover, fundamental aspects of the electronic structures and their relationship with the reaction thermodynamics are discussed. The results suggest a possible disproportionation between the sodiated phases of Na(2)BDA, supporting a two-electron process, and also unveil major differences for the two employed cations: Na+ and Li+.
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