Silicon/conducting-polymer solar cell

The incorporation of siloles in polymers is of interest and importance in chemistry and functionalities. Some optoelectronic properties, impossible to obtain in silole small molecules, may be realized with silole-containing polymers (SCPs). The first synthesis of SCPs was reported in 1992.21 Since then, different types of SCPs, such as main chain type 7r-conjugated SCPs catenated through the aromatic carbon of a silole, main chain type cr-conjugated SCPs catenated through the silicon atom of a silole, SCPs with silole pendants, and hyperbranched or dendritic SCPs (Fig. 2), have been synthesized.10 In this chapter, the functionalities of SCPs, such as band gap, photoluminescence, electroluminescence, bulk-heterojunction solar cells, field effect transistors, aggregation-induced emission, chemosensors, conductivity, and optical limiting, are summarized. 

A third access to soluble polyenes lies in the ROMP of cyclooctatetraene (COT) derivatives. COTs are readily polymerized by W- and Mo-based Schrock carbenes to yield substituted polyenes (Scheme 36). As evidenced by UV—Vis spectroscopy, these materials which are synthesized in a predominately cis form are highly conjugated with values for Amax of up to 538 nm (R = />octadecyl). Thermal cis—trans isomerization is possible and may be monitored via UV— Vis spectroscopy. The resulting predominately all-trans polymers show values for Xmax of up to 634 nm (R = neopentyl). Upon doping of these materials with iodine, conductivities of up to 50 S/m may be achieved.Trimethylsilyl-substituted COT forms transparent polymers, which may be casted onto n-doped silicon (n-Si). Upon treatment with iodine, surface barrier solar cells may be prepared. Soluble,... 

The majority of photovoltaic modules use silicon as the photovoltaic cell element, but other materials are, in principle, possible. The last four chapters consider the use of organic polymers (sometimes doped) as the cell element or in some related conducting property acrylonitrile, some polymeric phthalocyanines and polymers of 2-vinylnaphthalene that is doped with pyrene and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene. The study on the last group of polymers was initiated by the idea that they could be used to transfer solar energy to a reaction center and produce some type of chemical reaction. The final chapter carries this approach further in the consideration of polymeric electrodes that could be used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. The latter could then be utilized as a source of storable, readily transportable chemical energy. 

E. L. Williams, Q. Wang, S. E. Shaheen, D. S. Ginley and G. E. Jabbour, Conducting polymer and thin-film silicon hybrid solar cells, Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 91, 802-804 (2004). 

Bayer is linked to the electronics industry via its HC Starck subsidiary which supplies the Baytron P transparent conductive polymer which can be used to manufacture organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). Innovative developments by the US Plextronics conductive polymer company include an OLED designed to compete with incandescent and fluorescent lamps. The company is also working on solar cells where inherently conductive polymers are the key ingredients to replace silicon. 

---