We present the synthesis of regioregular polythiophenes with alkylthiophene side chains P3TC16 prepared by Ni-catalyzed polymerization from the branched, thiophene-based monomer 5-bromo-5″-hexadecyl-[2,2′;3′,2″]terthiophene. The optical properties in solution and thin films of the polymer were investigated in situ as a function of temperature and compared to the low regioregularity analogue FeP3TC6 synthesized by Fe(III) mediated oxidative polymerization of 5″-hexyl-[2,2′;3′,2″]terthiophene. It was found that due to the regioregular structure, P3TC16 tends to strong aggregation in solution, which is ascribed to π−π interactions. The bandgap in thin films of 1.88 eV is slightly smaller than the bandgap of the reference polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT, 1.91 eV). Interestingly, it was found that the HOMO and LUMO levels of P3TC16 are shifted to significantly lower values as compared to P3HT. First results regarding the application of P3TC16 in FETs are shown and mobilities of up to 3.1 × 10 −2 cm 2 /(V s) were achieved. Open circuit voltages of up to 710 mV in combination with PC[60]BM in organic solar cells were found, which is about 30% higher than for P3HT, which can be attributed to the low HOMO energy level.

We report the simple one-pot synthesis of size tunable zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) out of an organometallic ZnO precursor using the self-assembly of solution phase polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) micelles. The resulting hybrid material could be deposited on various substrates in a straightforward manner with the NPs showing size-dependent absorption and photoluminescence due to the quantum-size effect. We compare the results to the assembly of preformed NPs which are selectively incorporated in the poly(2-vinylpyridine) core of the micelles due to the high affinity of ZnO to vinylpyridine.

Block copolymers have been widely investigated over the past decades for their ability to microphase separate into well-defined nanostructured thin films with tailored physical properties. The aim of the present study is to investigate the thin film properties of rod−coil block copolymer/phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends as a function of the blend weight ratio, using a copolymer which is based on a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) rod block and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) coil block. Atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction analysis are used to study the influence of PCBM on the copolymer self-assembling. UV−visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies as well as field-effect mobility measurements are performed in order to get further insight into the blend optoelectronic properties. It is found that the block copolymer phase-separated morphology and charge carrier mobilities strongly depend on the PCBM loading and thermal annealing. In particular, the results point out that PCBM enhances the block copolymer microphase separation within a narrow range of the polymer:PCBM weight ratio. In addition, clear evidence for PCBM accumulation within the P4VP domains is found by monitoring the P3HT fluorescence and charge carrier mobilities.

We report the synthesis of a series of block copolymers consisting of a rod-like semiconducting poly(2,5-di(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (DEH-PPV) block and a flexible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) block that can be selectively degraded under mild conditions. Such selectively degradable block copolymers are designed as self-assembling templates for bulk heterojunction donor-acceptor layers in organic solar cells. A lamellar microphase-separated domain structure was identified for block copolymers with PLA volume fractions between 29 and 79% in bulk and thin films using SAXS, TEM, and AFM. Depending on the ratio of the two blocks we find either lamellae oriented parallel or perpendicular to the substrate in thin films.