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The device characteristics of polymer solar cells with cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) as an electron-injection interlayer have been investigated. It is found that the insertion of Cs2CO3 at the cathode interface improves the device power conversion efficiency from 2.3% to 3.1%. In order to further understand the mechanism, the interfacial interaction between the active organic layer and the cathode was studied by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The results of XPS measurement indicate the fact that a portion of electrons transfer from the interlayer into the organic layer, resulting in n-type doping. The n-doping effect enhances the efficiency of electron injection and collection. Further, the maximum open-circuit voltage (Voc) was determined from its temperature dependence. For the device with Cs2CO3, the maximum Voc is extremely close to the corresponding value of the energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital of the electron donor and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the electron acceptor, suggesting a better Ohmic contact. All evidences indicated that Cs2CO3 is a promising candidate as an interlayer to improve the device performance.

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Most plastic diffusers are either of surface-relief or particle-diffusing types, based on different principles and fabrication methods. This paper reports an innovative extrusion roller embossing process, which enables the fabrication of diffusers with both surface-relief and particle-diffusing functions. An extruder with die is employed to fabricate the thin film of PC/bead composite; the roller micro-embossing process is used to replicate the microstructure onto the surface of PC composite film. A metallic roller mold with microstructures is fabricated using turning process. During the extrusion rolling embossing process, the extruded film of PC with diffusion beads is immediately pressed against the surface of the roller mold. Under the proper processing parameters, the plastic diffusers integrating surface-relief and particle-diffusing functions have been successfully fabricated. The shape, uniformity, and optical properties of fabricated diffuser have been verified. This method shows the great potential for continuous fabrication of high-performance plastic diffusers integrating surface-relief and particle-diffusing functions with high throughput.

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/nanosilica (F2Sy) and UHMWPE/modified nanosilica (F2Smx‐y) as‐prepared fibers were prepared by spinning of F2Sy and F2Smx‐y gel solutions, respectively. Modified nanosilica particles were prepared by grafting maleic anhydride grafted polyethylenes onto nanosilica particles. The achievable draw ratios (Dra) of F2Sy and F2Smx‐y as‐prepared fibers approached a maximal value as the original and modified nanosilica contents reached corresponding optimum values; the maximal Dra value obtained for F2Smx‐y as‐prepared fiber specimens was significantly higher than that of the F2Sy as‐prepared fiber specimens prepared at the optimum nanosilica content. The melting temperature and evaluated lamellar thickness values of F2Sy and F2Smx‐y as‐prepared fiber series specimens decrease, but crystallinity values increase significantly, as their original and modified nanosilica contents respectively increase. Similar to the achievable drawing properties of the as‐prepared fibers, the orientation factor, tensile strength (σf) and initial modulus (E) values of both drawn F2Sy and F2Smx‐y fiber series specimens with a fixed draw ratio reach a maximal value as the original and/or modified nanosilica contents approach the optimum values; the σf and E values of the drawn F2Smx‐y fiber specimens are significantly higher than those of the corresponding drawn F2Sy fiber specimens prepared at the same draw ratios and nanosilica contents but without being modified. To understand the interesting ultradrawing, thermal, orientation and tensile properties of F2Sy and F2Smx‐y fiber specimens, Fourier transform infrared, specific surface area and transmission electron microscopy analyses of the original and modified nanosilica were performed in this study. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry