Optimization and analysis of conjugated polymer side chains for high‐performance organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) reveal a critical relationship between the chemical structure of the side chains and photovoltaic properties of polymer‐based bulk heterojunction OPVs. In particular, the impact of the alkyl side chain length on the π‐bridging (thienothiophene, TT) unit is considered by designing and synthesizing a series of benzodithiophene derivatives (BDT(T)) and thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐π‐bridged thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6(5H)‐dione (ttTPD) alternating copolymers, PBDT(T)‐(R2)ttTPD, with alkyl chains of varying length on the TT unit. Using a combination of 2D X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical device characterization, it is elucidated in detail how these subtle changes to the chemical structure affect the molecular conformation, thin film molecular packing, blend film morphology, optoelectronic properties, and hence overall photovoltaic performance. For copolymers employing both the alkoxy or alkylthienyl‐substituted BDT motifs, it is found that octyl side chains on TT unit yield the maximum degree of molecular backbone coplanarity and result in the highest quality of molecular packing and optimized hole mobility. Inverted devices fabricated using this PBDTT‐8ttTPD: polymer/[6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butylic acid methyl ester active layer show a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.7% with large area cells (0.64 cm2) maintaining a PCE of 7.5%.
We have synthesized a series of conjugated D-p-A copolymers, PT-ttTPD and PBT-ttTPD, based on a (5-hexyltridecyl)-4Hthieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6(5H)-dione (ttTPD) acceptor unit in order to develop better photovoltaic polymers based on the TPD moiety: an e-branched alkyl side chain on the TPD unit was coupled with 6-alkyl-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (tt) p-bridge molecules. The Stille polymerization of the brominated ttTPD and stannylated simple thiophene (T) finally gave a promising PT-ttTPD polymer showing well-ordered inter-chain orientation in the BHJ active layer. PT-ttTPD-based OPVs exhibited a highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.21% (V OC = 0.86 V, J SC = 15.30 mA cm À2 , FF = 70%).
During the last few decades, considerable research on diabetic wound healing strategies has been performed, but complete diabetic wound healing remains an unsolved problem, which constitutes an enormous biomedical burden. Herein, hyaluronic acid (HA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid, PLGA) core/shell fiber matrices loaded with epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) (HA/PLGA-E) are fabricated by coaxial electrospinning. HA/PLGA-E core/shell fiber matrices are composed of randomly-oriented sub-micrometer fibers and have a 3D porous network structure. EGCG is uniformly dispersed in the shell and sustainedly released from the matrices in a stepwise manner by controlled diffusion and PLGA degradation over four weeks. EGCG does not adversely affect the thermomechanical properties of HA/PLGA-E matrices. The number of human dermal fibroblasts attached on HA/PLGA-E matrices is appreciably higher than that on HA/PLGA counterparts, while their proliferation is steadily retained on HA/PLGA-E matrices. The wound healing activity of HA/PLGA-E matrices is evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. After two weeks of surgical treatment, the wound areas are significantly reduced by the coverage with HA/PLGA-E matrices resulting from enhanced re-epithelialization/neovascularization and increased collagen deposition, compared with no treatment or HA/PLGA. In conclusion, the HA/PLGA-E matrices can be potentially exploited to craft strategies for the acceleration of diabetic wound healing and skin regeneration.
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