Novel approaches to polymer blends based on polymer nanoparticles.
Polymer layers can exhibit significantly improved performances if they possess a multicomponent phase-separated morphology. We present two approaches to control the dimensions of phase separation in thin polymer-blend layers; both rely on polymer nanospheres prepared by the miniemulsion process. In the first approach, heterophase solid layers are prepared from an aqueous dispersion containing nanoparticles of two polymers, whereas in the second approach, both polymers are already contained in each individual nanoparticle. In both cases, the upper limit for the dimension of phase separation is determined by the size of the individual nanoparticles, which can be adjusted down to a few tens of nanometres. We also show that the efficiencies of solar cells using two-component particles are comparable to those of devices prepared from solution at comparable illumination conditions, and that they are not affected by the choice of solvent used in the miniemulsion process.
University of Potsdam, Institute of Physics, Am Neuen Palais 10, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany.
Thomas
T
Kietzke
Dieter
D
Neher
Katharina
K
Landfester
Rivelino
R
Montenegro
Roland
R
Güntner
Ullrich
U
Scherf
D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008863:Microspheres; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012993:Solar Energy
D004655:Emulsions; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011108:Polymers