Modeling of optical properties of hybrid metal-organic nanostructures

To model spectral characteristics of hybrid metal-organic nanostructures, the extended Mie theory was used, which makes it possible to calculate the extinction efficiency factor (Qext) and the scattering efficiency factor in the near zone (QNF) of two-layer spherical particles placed in an absorbing matrix. Two-layer plasmon nanospheres consisting of a metallic core (Ag, Cu) coated with dielectric shells and located into the copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) matrix were considered. The influence of dielectric shell thickness and refractive index on the characteristics of the surface plasmon resonance of absorption (SPRA) was studied. The possibility of the SPRA band tuning by changing the optical and geometrical parameters of dielectric shells was shown. It was established that dielectric shells allow to shift the surface plasmon resonance band of plasmonic nanoparticles absorption both to short- and long-wavelength spectral range depending on the relation between shell and matrix refractive indexes.

The effect of net carriers at the interconnection layer in tandem organic solar cells

Tandem cell with structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/ molybdenum oxide (MoO3)/ fullerene (C60) / copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/ C60 / tris-8-hydroxy- quinolinato aluminum (Alq3)/Al was fabricated to study the effect of net carriers at the interconnection layer. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current were found to be 1.15 V and 0.56 mA/cm2, respectively. Almost the same performance (1.05 V, 0.58 mA/cm2) of tandem cell with additional recombination layer (ITO/MoO3/C60/Alq3/Al/Ag/MoO3/CuPc/C60/Alq3/Al) demonstrates that carrier balance is more crucial than carrier recombination. The net holes at the interconnection layer caused by more carrier generation from the back cell on one hand would enhance the recombination with electrons from the front cell and on the other hand would quench the excitons produced in CuPc of the back cell.

Photoresponse Dimensionality of Organic Field-Effect Transistor

Organic field-effect transistors have been envisioned for advanced photodetectors because the organic semiconductors provide unique absorption characteristics, low-cost fabrication, or compatibility with flexible substrates. However, the response time of organic phototransistors still does not reach the required application level. Here, we report the photoresponse of copper phthalocyanine phototransistor in a steady state and under pulsed illumination. The detailed analysis based on the random walk among a field of traps was used to evaluate the dimensionality of electron transport in a device.

Highly selective sulfonated Poly (arylene ether nitrile) composite membranes containing copper phthalocyanine grafted graphene oxide for direct methanol fuel cell

To improve the performances of sulfonated poly (arylene ether nitrile) (SPEN)–based proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), the copper phthalocyanine grafted graphene oxide (CP-GO) was successfully prepared via in situ polymerization and subsequently incorporated into SPEN as filler to fabricate a series of SPEN/CP-GO-X (X represents for the mass ratio of CP-GO) composite membranes. The water absorption, swelling ratio, mechanical properties, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability of the membranes were systematically studied. CP-GO possesses good dispersion and compatibility with SPEN matrix, which is propitious to the formation of strong interfacial interactions with the SPEN, so as to provide more efficient transport channels for proton transfer in the composite membranes and significantly improve the proton conductivity of the membranes. Besides, the strong π–π conjugation interactions between CP-GO and SPEN matrix can make the composite membranes more compact, blocking the methanol transfer in the membranes, and significantly reducing the methanol permeability. Consequently, the SPEN/CP-GO-1 composite membrane displayed outstanding tensile strength (58 MPa at 100% RH and 25°C), excellent proton conductivity (0.178 S cm−1 at 60°C), and superior selectivity (5.552 × 105 S·cm−3·s). This study proposed a new method and strategy for the preparation of high performance PEMs.