Polymer and Organic Materials Commons^™

P3ht:Pcpdtbt:Pcbm Multi- Polymer Single Layer Solar Cells, Ted Andreas

Physics

OPV efficiencies are limited by their narrow absorption; rather than using tandem architecture to overcome this obstacle, our group combined P3HT and PCPDTBT into a single layer BHJ solar cell that achieved 2.0% PCE. This is 33% higher than the pure P3HT control from this group, proving that multi-polymer solar cells have the potential to outperform their single-polymer components.

Multipolymer Interactions In Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices, Grant Olson

Physics

Multipolymer photovoltaics, single layer devices made up of multiple photoactive polymers, can create organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with a wider spectral response than single polymer systems without the difficult fabrication of a tandem. Our group has successfully created multipolymer solar devices with 2% power conversion efficiency. We have analyzed the optical and electrical properties of these devices, and found that it may be possible for polymers to assist each other with charge extraction, though combining polymers disrupts single polymer crystallinity.

Improving The Efficiency Of Organic Solar Cells By Varying The Material Concentration In The Photoactive Layer, Kevin Anthony Latimer

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells have been a rapidly improving technology over the past decade. To further improve the relatively low energy conversion efficiencies of these solar cells, several modifications need to be made to the overall device structure. Emerging technologies include cells that are fabricated with interfacial layers to facilitate charge transport, and tandem structures are being introduced to harness the absorption spectrum of polymers with varying bandgap energies.

When new structures are implemented, each layer of the cell must be optimized in order for the entire device to function efficiently. The most volatile layer of these devices is …

An Analytical Model Of Nanometer Scale Viscoelastic Properties Of Polymer Surfaces Measured Using An Atomic Force Microscope, Jacob B. Goldberg

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force and the Department of Defense is increasingly interested in nanomaterials. To study these materials, one needs to measure the mechanics of materials on the nanoscale. Over the past few decades the atomic force microscope (AFM) has been used in various methods to establish local surface properties at the nanoscale. In particular, surface elasticity measurements are crucial to understanding nanoscale surface properties. Problems arise, however, when measuring soft surfaces such as polymers and biological specimens, because these materials have a more complex viscoelastic response. This research focuses on modeling an AFM dynamic nanoindentation experiment intended to …

Modeling Of Metal-Ferroelectric-Insulator-Semiconductor Structures Based On Langmuir–Blodgett Copolymer Films, Timothy J. Reece, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Among the ferroelectric thin films used in field-effect transistor devices; the ferroelectric copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF –CH2–CF2–, with trifluoroethylene TrFE –CHF–CF2–, has distinct advantages, including low dielectric constant, low processing temperature, low cost, and compatibility with organic semiconductors. The operation of a metal-ferroelectric insulatorsemiconductor structure with PVDF-TrFE as the ferroelectric layer was analyzed and optimized by numerical solution of the Miller and McWhorter model. A model device consisting of 20 nm PVDF/TrFE on a 10-nm-thick high-k dielectric buffer exhibits a memory window of 5 V with an operating voltage of 15 V. The operating voltage can be reduced to …

Dielectric Nanocomposites: An Inside-Out Approach To Storing Electrostatic Energy, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The ability to achieve high-energy densities is the central challenge in energy storage and recovery. A promising strategy for increasing energy storage is to use highperformance dielectric materials, such as highly polarizable nanoparticles or polymers, or nanocomposites of the two. In this issue, Kim et al. use a molecular coating and clever chemistry to combine oxide nanoparticles with a polymer matrix, thereby producing an improved nanocomposite dielectric. Some advantages and challenges of using nanocomposites as improved dielectric materials are presented in this Perspective.

Polarization Switching Kinetics Of Ferroelectric Nanomesas Of Vinylidene Fluoride-Trifluoroethylene Copolymer, R. V. Gaynutdinov, O. A. Lysova, S. G. Yudin, A. L. Tolstikhina, A. L. Kholkin, V. M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The polarization switching kinetics of ferroelectric polymer nanomesas was investigated using piezoresponse force microscopy. The nanomesas were made by self-organization from Langmuir–Blodgett films of a 70% vinylidene fluoride and 30% trifluoroethylene copolymer. The polarization switching time exhibits an exponential dependence on reciprocal voltage that is consistent with nucleation-type switching dynamics.

Raman Studies Of 1,3,5,7 Cyclooctatetraene At High Pressure, Martin Galley, Ed Romano, Sergey Tkachev, Michael Pravica

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

We performed Raman spectroscopic studies of 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene at elevated pressures up to 10 GPa with the aim of examining possible planarization of the molecule and further studying two prior-discovered phases of the solid with pressure. The Raman excitation source was a Krypton-ion laser operating at 674.1 nm (give wavelength).

1,3,5,7 Cyclooctatetraene has an octagonal formation however it is not aromatic or anti-aromatic (not a subject to the 4n+2 Huckel’s rule) [1]. As a result, its adopts a somewhat reactive tub shape. Upon the addition or removal of one to two electrons under ambient conditions, the molecule planarizes and becomes aromatic …

Impact Of A Microwave Curing Process On Tensile Strength Of Selected Carbon Fiber Composites, Brian B. Balzer

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional process for curing carbon fiber (CF) composites has been the autoclave system. A review of recent research indicates curing CF composites in a microwave oven has the potential for reducing processing time. The problem statement of the experimental study was that the impact of a microwave curing process on tensile strength of selected CF composite specimens was unknown. The research study describes the statistical procedure and analysis of data to answer the specific question for the experimental trials: What is the effect on the tensile strength of cured CF composite samples due to the relationship of the autoclave …

An Evaluation Of Supercritical Drying And Peg/Freeze Drying Of Waterlogged Archaeological Wood, Eric Schindelholz, Robert Blanchette, Desmond C. Cook, Michael Drews, Steve Hand, Benjamin Held, Joel Jurgens, Betty Seifert

Physics Faculty Publications

This study was undertaken to evaluate the physical effects of drying waterlogged archaeological wood using supercritical carbon dioxide as compared to air drying and the popular polyethylene glycol (PEG)/freeze drying method. Previous studies have shown supercritical drying to be a potentially advantageous alternative to current methods of drying waterlogged wood through reduced processing time, minimal shrinkage, and increased success for reversibility. Samples in the form of blocks and planks of a few centimeters in size were prepared from two archaeological waterlogged wood sources and grouped into three treatment sets: one for air drying, one for PEG/freeze drying, and the other …

The Effects Of Humidity On The Dielectric Response In Ferroelectric Polymer Films Made By Langmuir-Blodgett Deposition, Kristin L. Kraemer, Alexander V. Sorokin, Christina M. Othon, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Ferroelectricity In Newly Synthesized Nitrile Polymer Systems, Matt Poulsen, Stephen Ducharme, Alexander V. Sorokin, Sahadeva Reddy, James M. Takacs, Y. Wen, Jihee Kim, Shireen Adenwalla

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of newly synthesized polymer systems have been studied. To date PVDF and its copolymers P(VDF-TrFE) have provided the bulk of the knowledge pertaining to ferroelectricity in polymers. Recently, ultrathin ferroelectric films of P(VDF-TrFE) 70:30 have been fabricated using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique [4]. In this study, various new polymers have been synthesized by chemically altering the PVDF structure. This alteration was performed in order to enhance the amphiphilic nature of the polymer and thus improve the LB film quality and control. Various chemical groups have been used to replace the electropositive hydrogen and electronegative fluorine found …

Mapping Surface Polarization In Thin Films Of The Ferroelectric Polymer P(Vdf-Trfe)., Bradley W. Peterson, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Timothy J. Reece

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Pyroelectric Scanning Microscopy (PSM) has been developed to enable mapping of surface polarization in ferroelectric thin films, in particular the copolymer polyvinylidene fluoride trifluororethylene, or P(VDF-TrFE). The Chynoweth method for dynamically measuring pyroelectric current is employed in conjunction with a micropositioning system to construct two-dimensional images of the film polarization. These images have revealed enhancement of the polarization near the edges of the film below the average coercive field, with the center's polarization increasing thereafter to meet the edge value at saturation.

Electron Irradiation Effects On Ferroelectric Copolymer Langmuir-Blodgett Films, Christina M. Othon, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The effect of irradiation on the ferroelectric properties of Langmuir-Blodgett films of the copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluorethelene) is investigating using 1.26 MeV electrons with dosages from 16 to 110 Mrad. Irradiation causes a systematic decrease in the phase transition temperature, coercive field and polarization of these thin films.

Ferroelectricity At Molecular Level, L. M. Blinov, A. V. Bune, Peter A. Dowben, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin, S. P. Palto, K. A. Verkhovskaya, G. V. Vizdrik, S. G. Yudin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

he synthesis of ultrathin ferroelectric nanostructures by the Langmuir-Blodgett method and their properties are reviewed. It is shown that ferroelectricity exists in one monolayer of the ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer, i.e., at the molecular level. The specific characteristics of switching of ultrathin ferroelectric films are established.

Dielectric Properties Of A Ferroelectric Copolymer Langmuir–Blodgett Film, Mahantappa S. Jogad, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

We report measurements of the real (epsilon prime) and imaginary (epsilon double-prime) parts of the relative complex permittivity of a Langmuir–Blodgett film of ferroelectric copolymer of vinylidene fluoride (70%) with trifluoroethylene (30%). The measurements were made in the temperature range of 35 to 125° C, and frequency range of 19 Hz to 5 MHz. The results indicate low frequency loss due to conduction and dielectric loss peak near the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition.