Incorporation of catechols into polymers has long been of interest due to their ability to chelate heavy metals and their use in the design of adhesives, metal−polymer nanocomposites, antifouling coatings, and so on. This paper reports, for the first time, the reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of a protected catechol-inspired monomer, 3,4dimethoxystyrene (DMS), using commercially available trithiocarbonate, 2-(dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionic acid (DDMAT), as a chain transfer agent. Our identified RAFT system produces well-defined polymers across a range of molecular weights (5−50 kg/mol) with low molar mass dispersities (Đ, M w /M n < 1.3). Subsequent facile demethylation of poly(3,4-dimethoxystyrene) (PDMS) yields poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) (PDHS), a catechol-bearing polymer, in quantitative yields. Semiquantitative zinc binding capacity analysis of both polymers using SEM/EDXA has demonstrated that both PDMS and PDHS have considerable surface binding (65% and 87%, respectively), although the films deposited from PDMS are of a better quality and processability due to solubility and lower processing temperatures.

High definition of all-small molecule materials for organic solar cells allows slow separation of localized charges.

Controlling polymer thin-film morphology and crystallinity is crucial for a wide range of applications, particularly in thin-film organic electronic devices. In this work, the crystallization behavior of a model polymer, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), during spincoating is studied. PEO films were spun-cast from solvents possessing different polarities (chloroform, THF and methanol) and probed via in situ grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering. The crystallization behavior was found to follow the solvent polarity order (where chloroform < THF < methanol) rather than the solubility order (where THF > chloroform > methanol). When spun-cast from non-polar chloroform, crystallization largely followed Avrami kinetics, resulting in the formation of morphologies comprising large spherulites. PEO solutions cast from more polar solvents (THF and methanol) do not form well-defined highly crystalline morphologies and are largely amorphous with the presence of small crystalline regions. The difference in morphological development of PEO spun-cast from polar solvents is attributed to clustering phenomena that inhibit polymer crystallization.This work highlights the importance of considering individual components of polymer solubility, rather than simple total solubility, when designing processing routes for the generation of morphologies with optimum crystallinities or morphologies.

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Since their emergence in 2013, perovskite solar cells have reached remarkable efficiencies exceeding 22%. Such rapid development of this technology has been possible, in part, due to the feed of ideas from previous research in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and light emitting diodes (OLEDs). This comprehensive review discusses the various polymer strategies that have led to the success of perovskite devices: from hole and electron transporting materials to polymer templating agents. This review further covers how these strategies potentially serve to overcome the two major obstacles that stand in the way of global implementation of perovskite solar cells; stability and J-V curve hysteresis. Through reference and comparison of OPV, OLED, and perovskite technologies, we highlight the need for a unified approach to establish appropriate control systems and ageing protocols that are necessary to further research in this exciting direction.