Crystallinity, polymer solar cells

New opportunities of blending polyolefin can be seen in thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) multicomponent, automobile fuel tanks, polymer solar cells, chemical sensors, polymer membrane, and foams. 

J. W. Jung, F. Liu, T. P. Russell, W. H. Jo, Semi-crystalline Random Conjugated Copolymers with Panchromatic Absorption for Highly Efficient Polymer Solar Cells. Energy Environ. Sci. 2013, 6, 3301. 

S. Venkatesan, et al. Critical role of domain crystallinity, domain pinity and domain interface sharpness for reduced bimolecular recombination in polymer solar cells. Nano Energy, 2015. 12 p. 457-467. 

Chu, C,W. et al, (2008) Control of the nanoscale crystallinity and phase separation in polymer solar cells. Appl. 

In the 1970s, a paradigm shift occurred when polymers with more specific properties started to be produced. This included various liquid crystalline polymers leading, for example, to the production of superstrong fibers such as Aramid / Kevlar [12]. The development of functional polymers for the conduction of light and electricity and optical switches also started then [13]. In the near future this will probably lead to highly effective and flexible polymer solar cells [14]. 

A solar cell was constructed from a p—fCH- film and a single crystalline n-Si wafer. The current-potential characteristic of the battery is shown in Fig. 20 73). A conversion efficiency of 4.3 % was obtained. The most sincere problem for poly-(acetylene) is its instability against air oxidation. If it could be solved, practical use of light weight and easily moldable solar cell from polymer films might be possible. 

Hoppe H, Drees M, Schwinger W, Schaffler F, Sariciftci NS (2005) Nano-crystalline fullerene phases in polymer/fullerene bulk-heterojunction solar cells a transmission electron microscopy study. Synth Met 152 117... 

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