The Thickness Effect of the Functional Film for the Fabrication of Photovoltaic Module.

In this study, a functional coating technology to improve the anti-fouling properties of the photo-voltaic module is introduced. The coating was applied on the cover glass, which is the same material as the photovoltaic module. After coating the cover glass once, twice, and three times in the horizontal and vertical directions respectively, the anti-fouling properties was tested according to the coating times and the thickness of the coating film. To ensure the durability of the coating film, the annealing process was performed for 1 hour at 200 °C in a furnace after coating. Finally, the photovoltaic module will be coated with the best coating method. Compared to uncoated modules, the coated photovoltaic modules showed significantly improved anti-fouling properties and also good performance in hardness and adhesion.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Tetrabenzo[7]circulene.

Tetrabenzo[7]circulene, a new member of aromatic saddles, was conveniently synthesized from 2-(1-naphthoyl)benzoic acid with the seven-membered ring constructed at an early stage of the synthesis. This method, upon minor modification, was also useful for synthesis of thiophene-annulated [7]circulenes. The structures of tetrabenzo[7]circulene and [7]circulene were compared in terms of symmetry, flexibility, and curvature on the basis of DFT calculations and X-ray crystallography. It was also found that tetrabenzo[7]circulene functioned as a p-type semiconductor in thin-film transistors and cocrystallized with C60.

Engineering Thin Films of a Tetrabenzoporphyrin toward Efficient Charge-Carrier Transport: Selective Formation of a Brickwork Motif.

Tetrabenzoporphyrin (BP) is a p-type organic semiconductor characterized by the large, rigid π-framework, excellent stability, and good photoabsorption capability. These characteristics make BP and its derivatives prominent active-layer components in organic electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, the control of the solid-state arrangement of BP frameworks, especially in solution-processed thin films, has not been intensively explored, and charge-carrier mobilities observed in BP-based materials have stayed relatively low as compared to those in the best organic molecular semiconductors. This work concentrates on engineering the solid-state packing of a BP derivative, 5,15-bis(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyltetrabenzoporphyrin (TIPS-BP), toward achieving efficient charge-carrier transport in its solution-processed thin films. The effort leads to the selective formation of a brickwork packing that has two dimensionally extended π-staking. The maximum field-effect hole mobility in the resulting films reaches 1.1 cm2 V-1 s-1, which is approximately 14 times higher than the record value for pristine free-base BP (0.070 cm2 V-1 s-1). This achievement is enabled mainly through the optimization of three factors; namely, deposition process, cast solvent, and self-assembled monolayer that constitutes the dielectric surface. On the other hand, polarized-light microscopy and grazing-incident wide-angle X-ray diffraction analyses show that there remains some room for improvement in the in-plane homogeneity of molecular alignment, suggesting even higher charge-carrier mobilities can be obtained upon further optimization. These results will provide a useful basis for the polymorph engineering and morphology optimization in solution-processed organic molecular semiconductors.

N-Phenylated N-Heteroacenes: Synthesis, Structures, and Properties.

Herein, two novel N-phenylated N-heteroacenes (1 and 2) are reported, along with details of their synthesis, structures, and properties. Compound 1 is a N-hetero analogue of rubrene, but differs from rubrene by having a bent backbone and behaving as an insulator in the solid state owing to the lack of π-π interactions. Compound 2 is a N-hetero analogue of 6,13-diphenylpentacene (DPP) with essentially the same molecular geometry and crystal packing as DPP, but exhibiting a field effect mobility higher than that of DPP by two orders of magnitude.

Twisted Polycyclic Arenes from Tetranaphthyldiphenylbenzenes by Controlling the Scholl Reaction with Substituents.

Herein, we report two new types of twisted polycyclic arenes (2 a, b and 3 a, b) with constitutionally isomeric π-backbones, which are synthesized by controlling the Scholl reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetra(naphth-2-yl)-3,6-diphenylbenzene (1) with properly positioned electron-donating substituents. With a polycyclic backbone containing two [5]helicene and four [4]helicene moieties, 2 a and b are new members of multiple helicenes with interesting stereochemistries. The as-synthesized 2 a and b are the twisted isomers, and thermal isomerization of twisted-2 b results in anti-2 b, a more stable stereoisomer. Both twisted- and anti-2 b have been fully characterized, and the thermal isomerization of twisted-2 b has been studied with 1 H NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Compounds 3 a and b are new members of twistacenes, the benzannulated pentacene backbone of which exhibits an end-to-end twist as found from the crystal structure. Twisted- and anti-2 b are also found to function as p-type semiconductors in solution-processed thin film transistors, whereas the thin films of 3 b appear insulating presumably due to the lack of π-π interactions.

Electron Mobility Exceeding 10 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and Band-Like Charge Transport in Solution-Processed n-Channel Organic Thin-Film Transistors.

Solution-processed n-channel organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) that exhibit a field-effect mobility as high as 11 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) at room temperature and a band-like temperature dependence of electron mobility are reported. By comparison of solution-processed OTFTs with vacuum-deposited OTFTs of the same organic semiconductor, it is found that grain boundaries are a key factor inhibiting band-like charge transport.

Extension of N-Heteroacenes through a Four-Membered Ring.

The synthesis of novel π-extended N-heteroacenes, which have a large tetraazaacene subunit and a quinoxaline subunit connected through a four-membered ring, is reported. They were studied with experimental and computational methods in comparison to the corresponding tetraazaacenes. As found from the DFT calculation, the four-membered ring is a better linker than a five-membered ring or a C-C single bond to extend N-heteroacenes for a new design of n-type semiconductors in terms of the spatial delocalization and energy level of LUMO as well as the reorganization energy. In solution-processed thin film transistors, the π-extended N-heteroacenes are found to function as n-type semiconductors with field effect mobility of up to 0.02 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) under ambient conditions.

Synthesis, solution-processed thin film transistors and solid solutions of silylethynylated diazatetracenes.

Silylethynylated diazatetracenes were synthesized in a more efficient way and applied as n-type semiconductors in solution-processed thin film transistors with an electron mobility of 0.65 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Co-crystallization of these diazatetracenes with silylethynylated tetracene resulted in solid solutions, which exhibited interesting electrical and optical properties.

Fabrication of red-blood-cell-like polyelectrolyte microcapsules and their deformation and recovery behavior through a microcapillary.

Multilayer microcapsules with a biconcave discoidal shape mimicking red blood cells (RBCs) are fabricated. The structure of the RBC-like microcapsules is verified by scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopies. The capsules show elastic deformation after being forced through a microcapillary with a smaller diameter, exhibiting a high recovery ratio of ≈90%. When the capsules are coated with hemoglobin (Hb),they are able to reversibly bind and release oxygen.

Phenomenon and mechanism of capsule shrinking in alkaline solution containing calcium ions.

Shrinking phenomenon of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(styrene sulfonate, sodium salt) (PSS) multilayer microcapsules was observed when they were incubated in alkaline solutions containing Ca(2+). The shrinking was universal to those polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules regardless of the wall thickness and wall compositions suppose the conditions were proper. The shrinking extent increased along with the increase of solution pH and Ca(2+) concentration, and reached to a maximum value of 70% (from 7.4 to 2.3 µm). The shrunk capsules with a hollow structure and thick wall could well maintain their spherical shape in a dry state. During the capsule shrinking partial loss of the polyelectrolytes especially PSS took place, and the loss amount increased along with the increase of solution pH although the alteration patterns were different at lower Ca(2+) concentration. The complexation of PSS with Ca(2+), which is believed one of the major reasons governing the capsule shrinking, was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and turbidity experiment. The mechanism is proposed, which relies on the synergistic effects of deprotonation of PAH and screening of PSS by Ca(2+) leading to the thermodynamically favored-capsule shrinking.