Two-dimensional polymer-based nanosheets for electrochemical energy storage and conversion

Over the past decades, two-dimensional（2D） nanomaterials possessing planar layered architecture and unique electronic structures have been being quickly developed, due to their wide potential application in the fields of chemistry, physics, and materials science. As a new family of 2D nanomaterials, 2D polymerbased nanosheets, featuring excellent characters, such as tunable framework structures, light weight, flexibility, high specific surface, and good semiconducting properties, have been emerging as one kind of promising functional materials for optoelectronics, gas separation, catalysis and sensing, etc. In this review, the recent progress in synthetic approach and characterization of 2D polymer-based nanosheets were summarized, and their current advances in electrochemical energy storage and conversion including second batteries, supercapacitors, oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution were discussed systematically.

Highly Efficient Power Conversion from Salinity Gradients with Ion-Selective Polymeric Nanopores

A polymeric nanopore membrane with selective ionic transport has been proposed as a potential device to convert the chemical potential energy in salinity gradients to electrical power. However, its energy conversion efficiency and power density are often limited due to the challenge in reliably controlling the size of the nanopores with the conventional chemical etching method. Here we report that without chemical etching, polyimide （PI） membranes irradiated with GeV heavy ions have negatively charged nanopores, showing nearly perfect selectivity for cations over anions, and they can generate electrical power from salinity gradients. We further demonstrate that the power generation efficiency of the PI membrane approaches the theoretical limit, and the maximum power density reaches 130m W/m2 with a modified etching method, outperforming the previous energy conversion device that was made of polymeric nanopore membranes.

The Effect of Cyclodextrins in Polymer Particles Synthesis

The free radical polymerization of styrene in water in the presence of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is described. It is found that β-CD could greatly accelerate the polymerization, enhance the final conversion of monomer. The particle-size distribution of the final polymer is also improved than that without β-CD in the system.

PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF SILICONE-ACRYLATE COPOLYMER LATEX

Silicone-acrylate copolymer latex was prepared through three different polymerization processes, i.e., the batch process, preemulsified monomer addition and the monomer addition process. The results revealed that the monomer addition process is a desirable approach to produce narrow particle size distribution latex with higher polymerization conversion and less amount of coagulum. The effect of silicone content on the glossiness and water absorption of latex film was investigated and the results showed that the glossiness of latex film is improved up to a silicone content of 10% of total monomers, but becomes impaired thereafter, whereas water absorption is reduced accordingly.

Synergistic effect of fluorination on both donor and acceptor materials for high performance non-fullerene polymer solar cells with 13.5% efficiency

A high performance polymer solar cells(PSCs) based on polymer donor PM6 containing fluorinated thienyl benzodithiophene unit and n-type organic semiconductor acceptor IT-4 F containing fluorinated end-groups were developed. In addition to complementary absorption spectra(300–830 nm) with IT-4 F, the PM6 also has a deep HOMO(the highest occupied molecular) level(-5.50 e V), which will lower the open-circuit voltage(V_(oc)) sacrifice and reduce the E_(loss) of the IT-4 F-based PSCs. Moreover, the strong crystallinity of PM6 is beneficial to form favorable blend morphology and hence to suppress recombination. As a result, in comparison with the PSCs based on a non-fluorinated D/A pair of PBDB-T:ITIC with a medium PCE of 11.2%, the PM6:IT-4 Fbased PSCs yielded an impressive PCE of 13.5% due to the synergistic effect of fluorination on both donor and acceptor, which is among the highest values recorded in the literatures for PSCs to date. Furthermore, a PCE of 12.2% was remained with the active layer thickness of up to 285 nm and a high PCE of 11.4% was also obtained with a large device area of 1 cm^2. In addition, the devices also showed good storage, thermal and illumination stabilities with respect to the efficiency. These results indicate that fluorination is an effective strategy to improve the photovoltaic performance of materials, as well as the both fluorinated donor and acceptor pair-PM6:IT-4 F is an ideal candidate for the large scale roll-to-roll production of efficient PSCs in the future.

Enhanced open-circuit voltage in methoxyl substituted benzodithiophene-based polymer solar cells

The open-circuit voltage(V_(oc))is one of the important parameters that influence the power conversion efficiency(PCE)of polymer solar cells.Its value is mainly determined by the energy level offset between the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)of the donor and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO)of the acceptor.Therefore,decreasing the HOMO value of the polymer could lead to a high V_(oc)and thus increasing the cell efficiency.Here we report a facile way to lower the polymer HOMO energy level by using methoxyl substituted-benzodithiophene(BDT)unit.The polymer with the methoxyl functionl group(POBDT(S)-T1)exhibited a HOMO value of-5.65 eV,which is deeper than that(-5.52 eV)of polymer without methoxyl unit(PBDT(S)-T1).As a result,POBDT(S)-T1-based solar cells show a high V_(oc)of 0.98 V and PCE of 9.2%.In contrast,PBDT(S)-T1-based devices show a relatively lower V_(oc)of 0.89 V and a moderate PCE of 7.4%.The results suggest that the involvement of methoxyl group into conjugated copolymers can efficiencly lower their HOMO energy levels.

Inverted polymer solar cells with Zn_2SnO_4 nanoparticles as the electron extraction layer

In this study, we report narrow-size distribution Zn_2SnO_4（ZSO） nanoparticles, which are produced by low-temperature solution-processed used as the electron extraction layer（EEL） in the inverted polymer solar cells（i-PSCs）. Moreover, poly[（9,9-bis（30-（N,N-dimethylamino）propyl）-2,7-fluorene）-alt-2,7-（9,9-dioctylfluorene）]（PFN） is used to modify the surface properties of ZSO thin film. By using the ZSO NPs/PFN as the EEL, the i-PSCs fabricated by poly[4,8-bis（2-ethylhexyloxyl）benzo[1,2-b：4,5-b0] dithio-phene-2,6-diyl-altethylhexyl-3-fluorothithieno [3,4-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate-4,6-diyl]（PTB7） blended with（6,6）-phenyl-C_（71）-butyric acid methylester（PC_（71）BM） bulk heterojunction（BHJ） composite, exhibits a power conversion efficiency（PCE） of 8.44%, which is nearly 10% enhancement as compared with that of7.75% observed from the i-PSCs by PTB7：PC_（71）BM BHJ composite using the ZnO/PFN EEL. The enhanced PCE is originated from improved interfacial contact between the EEL with BHJ active layer and good energy level alignment between BHJ active layer and the EEL. Our results indicate that we provide a simple way to boost efficiency of i-PSCs.