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Integrating a Triplet-triplet Annihilation Up-conversion System to Enhance Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Response to Sub-bandgap Light
Published on: September 12, 2014
Room-Temperature High-Efficiency Solid-State Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Up-Conversion in Amorphous Poly(olefin
Andrey Turshatov1, Dmitry Busko1, Natalia Kiseleva1
1Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology , Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
New polymer hosts enable efficient triplet-triplet annihilation up-conversion (TTA-UC) below the glass transition temperature. This breakthrough in spectral conversion technology achieves high quantum yields in solid-state polymers, even in ambient conditions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photochemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Triplet-triplet annihilation up-conversion (TTA-UC) is a spectral conversion technology.
- Efficient TTA-UC typically requires polymer hosts above their glass transition temperature (T > Tg).
- High quantum yield TTA-UC below Tg in solid-state polymers is rarely reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop new polymer hosts for efficient TTA-UC below the glass transition temperature.
- To investigate the performance of TTA-UC in solid-state poly(olefin sulfone) hosts.
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind efficient TTA-UC in rigid polymer matrices.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of four poly(olefin sulfone) hosts.
- Measurement of absolute quantum yields of TTA-UC (ηTTA-UC).
- Time-resolved luminescence and magic angle spinning solid-state NMR experiments.
Main Results:
- Efficient TTA-UC was achieved in poly(olefin sulfone) hosts well below Tg.
- Poly(1-dodecene sulfone) yielded the highest ηTTA-UC of 2.1%, consistent in vacuum and ambient conditions.
- NMR data revealed nanoscale fluidity coexisting with macroscopic rigidity, facilitating triplet energy transfer.
Conclusions:
- Poly(olefin sulfone)s are effective hosts for high quantum yield TTA-UC in the solid state, below Tg.
- The materials exhibit excellent oxygen barrier properties.
- Nanoscale fluidity within the rigid polymer matrix is key to efficient energy transfer in TTA-UC.
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