Correction: Optical and electrical effects of plasmonic nanoparticles in high-efficiency hybrid solar cells.

Correction for 'Optical and electrical effects of plasmonic nanoparticles in high-efficiency hybrid solar cells' by Wei-Fei Fu et al., Phys. Chem.

Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Macrocycles: Synthesis and Host-Guest Coassembly with Fullerene toward Photovoltaic Application.

Electron-rich (donor) and electron-deficient (acceptor) units to construct donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated macrocycles were investigated to elucidate their interactions with electron-deficient fullerene. Triphenylamine and 4,7-bisthienyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole were alternately linked through acetylene, as the donor and acceptor units, respectively, for pentagonal 3B2A and hexagonal 4B2A macrocycles. As detected by scanning tunneling microscopy, both D-A macrocycles were found to form an interesting concentration-controlled nanoporous monolayer on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, which could effectively capture fullerene.

A Tetraperylene Diimides Based 3D Nonfullerene Acceptor for Efficient Organic Photovoltaics.

is developed for bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics. The disruption of perylene diimide planarity with a 3D framework suppresses the self-aggregation of perylene diimide and inhibits excimer formation. From planar monoperylene diimide to 3D tetraperylene diimide, a significant improvement of power conversion efficiency from 0.

Pyrene and diketopyrrolopyrrole-based oligomers synthesized via direct arylation for OSC applications.

In this report, an atom efficient and facile synthetic strategy for accessing multi-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based oligomers used in solution-processed organic field effect transistors (OFETs) and organic solar cells (OSCs) has been developed. The DPP units were successfully installed onto benzene and pyrene cores via palladium-catalyzed dehydrohalogenative coupling of mono-capped DPPs with multi-bromo-benzene or -pyrene (direct arylation), affording four oligomer small molecules (SMs 1-4) containing bis-, tri-, tri-, and tetra-DPP, respectively, in high yields of 78-96%. All the designed linear or branched DPP-based oligomers exhibit broad light absorptions, narrow band-gaps (1.

Evaluation of heterocycle-modified pentathiophene-based molecular donor materials for solar cells.

Two novel solution-processable acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A)-structured organic small molecules with diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as terminal acceptor units and pentathiophene (PTA) or pyrrole-modified pentathiophene (NPTA) as the central donor unit, namely, DPP2(PTA) and DPP2(NPTA), were designed and synthesized. We examined the effects of changing the central bridging heteroatoms of the five-ring-fused thienoacene core identity from sulfur [DPP2(PTA)] to nitrogen [DPP2(NPTA)] in the small-molecule donor material. Replacement of the bridging atom with a different electronic structure has a visible effect on both the optical and electrical properties: DPP2(NPTA), which contains much more electron-rich pyrrole in the central thienoacene unit, possesses red-shifted absorption and a higher HOMO level relative to DPP2(PTA) with the less electron-rich thiophene in the same position.

A direct arylation-derived DPP-based small molecule for solution-processed organic solar cells.

A diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrole (DPP) oligomer containing three DPP cores (Ph4Th4(DPP)3) was synthesized via direct arylation of C-H bonds (DACH). Ph4Th4(DPP)3 has good solubility in many organic solvents, and shows a broad absorption band from the visible to near-infrared region as well as a field-effect hole mobility as high as 0.006 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1).

Optical and electrical effects of plasmonic nanoparticles in high-efficiency hybrid solar cells.

Plasmonics have been proven to be an effective way to harness more incident light to achieve high efficiency in photovoltaic devices. Herein, we explore the possibility that plasmonics can be utilized to enhance light trapping and power conversion efficiency (PCE) for polymer-quantum dot (QD) hybrid solar cells (HSCs). Based on a low band-gap polymer poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']-dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT) and a CdSe QD bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) system, gold nanoparticles were doped at different locations of the devices.

Star-shaped D-A small molecules based on diketopyrrolopyrrole and triphenylamine for efficient solution-processed organic solar cells.

Three star-shaped D-A small molecules, (P-DPP)(3)TPA, (4-FP-DPP)(3)TPA, and (4-BuP-DPP)(3)TPA were designed and synthesized with triphenylamine (TPA) as the core, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as the arm, and unsubstituted or substituted benzene rings (phenyl, P; 4-fluoro-phenyl, 4-FP; 4-n-butyl-phenyl, 4-BuP) as the end-group. All the three small molecules show relatively narrow optical band gaps (1.68-1.

Fine encapsulation of dual-particle electronic ink by incorporating block copolymer for electrophoretic display application.

The design of the oppositely charged ink particles based on titanium dioxide and carbon black for the monochrome electrophoretic display (EPD) was reported. The white ink particles with acidic surface and black ink particles with basic surface were synthesized and sterically stabilized by long alkyl chains, which were charged oppositely by mixing with basic surfactant (OLOA 1200) and acidic surfactant (Span 80), respectively. The electrophoretic mobility and the Zeta potential were -3.

Generation of native polythiophene/PCBM composite nanoparticles via the combination of ultrasonic micronization of droplets and thermocleaving from aqueous dispersion.

We report the preparation of native polythiophene (n-PT)/[6, 6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) composite nanoparticles from a poly[3-(2-methylhex-2-yl)oxy-carbonyldithiophene] (P3MHOCT)/PCBM aqueous dispersion prepared from an ultrasonically generated emulsion. The subsequent steps involve both ultrasonic generation of microdroplets in argon as a carrier gas and drying followed by thermocleaving of the P3MHOCT component in the gas phase. The chemical transition from P3MHOCT to n-PT was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

π-π Interaction among violanthrone molecules: observation, enhancement, and resulting charge transport properties.

To investigate the relationship between π-π stacking and charge transport property of organic semiconductors, a highly soluble violanthrone derivative, 16,17-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)anthra[9,1,2-cde-]benzo[rst]pentaphene-5,10-dione (3), is designed and synthesized. The π-π stacking behavior and the aggregation of compound 3 in both solution and thin film were studied in detail by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). When (1)H NMR spectroscopy and theoretical modeling results were combined, the arrangements of compound 3 molecules in the aggregates are demonstrated, where the dipole moments of the two adjacent molecules are nearly reversed to achieve efficient intermolecular π-π overlapping.

Bis[N-(1-naphth-yl)ethyl-enediammonium] hexa-bromidoplumbate(II).

The title compound, (C(12)H(16)N(2))(2)[PbBr(6)], is an organic-inorganic salt, with two doubly protonated N-(1-naphth-yl)ethyl-enediammonium cations and one octa-hedral hexa-bromidoplumbate(II) anion. The Pb(II) atom is located on a centre of inversion. The crystal structure consists of alternating inorganic and organic layers parallel to the bc plane.

Föster resonance energy transfer in solution-processed Si-nanoparticle/carbon nanotube nanocomposites.

By exploiting a simple solution approach, we bound ethoxy-terminated Si nanoparticles to surface functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via covalent bonds. Quenching of photoluminescence (PL) of the Si nanoparticles was observed once they were conjugated to the MWCNTs. Analysis of the time-resolved PL decay and calculation indicated that Föster resonance energy transfer from the Si nanoparticles to the MWCNTs may be responsible for the PL quenching.

Preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces on cotton textiles.

Superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated by the complex coating of silica nanoparticles with functional groups onto cotton textiles to generate a dual-size surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with stearic acid, 1, 1, 2, 2-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane or their combination. The wettability and morphology of the as-fabricated surfaces were investigated by contact angle measurement and scanning electron microscopy. Characterizations by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis were also conducted.

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics prepared by sol-gel coating of TiO and surface hydrophobization.

By coating fibers with titania sol to generate a dual-size surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with stearic acid, 1,1,2,2-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane or their combination, hydrophilic cotton fabrics were made superhydrophobic. The surface wettability and topology of cotton fabrics were studied by contact angle measurement and scanning electron microscopy. The UV-shielding property of the treated fabrics was also characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry.

A green route to water soluble carbon nanotubes and in situ loading of silver nanoparticles.

A green approach has been developed to synthesize water soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Ag nanoparticles have been loaded on the as-synthesized MWNTs via the in situ solution method. The strategy is based on the introduction of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups through a mild modification of MWNTs via polycondensation of citric acid and D-sorbitol, improving the water solubility of MWNTs, giving rise to preferred sites of Ag nucleation, and providing mild in situ reducing agents.

Fe(3)O(4)@Au/polyaniline multifunctional nanocomposites: their preparation and optical, electrical and magnetic properties.

Fe(3)O(4)@Au/polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ polymerization in the presence of mercaptocarboxylic acid. The mercaptocarboxylic acid was used to introduce hydrogen bonding and/or electrostatic interaction; it acts as a template in the formation of Fe(3)O(4)@Au/PANI nanorods. The morphology and structure of the resulting nanocomposites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and x-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS).

The preparation of highly water-soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes by irreversible noncovalent functionalization with a pyrene-carrying polymer.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been solubilized in water via a noncovalent method of exfoliation and centrifugation cycles with the assistance of hydrolyzed poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) carrying pyrene (HPSMAP). After the obtained solution was micro-filtered and dried, a water-soluble complex of HPSMAP-MWNTs was obtained. The solubility of HPSMAP-MWNTs was measured to be 46.

Preparation of water-soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes by polymer dispersant assisted exfoliation.

Water-soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with a high solubility of 29.2 mg ml(-1) were obtained by polymer dispersant hydrolyzed poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (HSMA) assisted exfoliation and centrifugation. The MWNTs were exfoliated and dispersed in aqueous solution by non-covalent modification with polymer dispersant of HSMA.

Well-defined nanoarrays from an n-type organic perylene-diimide derivative for photoconductive devices.

Well-defined one-dimensional (1D) perylene-diimide derivative (PDD) nanowire arrays were prepared via a simple electrophoretic deposition method by using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The morphology of the as-deposited films was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy. The highly ordered nanoarrays were free-standing after removing the AAO supports.

Fabrication and photoconductivity study of copper phthalocyanine/perylene composite with bulk heterojunctions obtained by solution blending.

Copper tetra-(octyl-alkoxy-carbonyl)-phthalocyanine (CuPc-C8) and 3,4,9,10-tetra-(octyl-alkoxy-carbonyl)-perylene (Pery-C8) attached with long alkyl chains by covalent bonds were synthesized. Both of the two compounds showed good solubility in organic solvents, and the compatibility between them was improved. The novel composite of CuPc-C8/Pery-C8 was prepared by the solution-blending method.

Fluorinated Alq3 derivatives with tunable optical properties.

This communication reports that not only the emission colour but also the photoluminescence quantum yield of Alq3 can be tuned by introducing fluorine atoms at different positions; with fluorination at C-5 the emission is red-shifted with a tremendously decreased intensity, fluorination at C-6 causes a blue-shift with a significantly increased intensity, and fluorination at C-7 has a minor effect on both the colour and intensity of Alq3's emission.

Electric field induced cis-to-trans isomerization of polyphenylacetylene in solid state.

A field induced isomerization from cis to trans form in stereoregular cis-rich polyphenylacetylenes (PPAs) was found, and it provides an alternate method to control the order of chromophores in thin solid films.