Date of Award

Fall 12-2011

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Committee Chair

James Rawlins

Committee Chair Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Committee Member 2

Paige Buchanan

Committee Member 2 Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Member 3

Kenneth Mauritz

Committee Member 3 Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Committee Member 4

Robert Moore

Committee Member 4 Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Committee Member 5

Daniel Savin

Committee Member 5 Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Committee Member 6

Robson Storey

Committee Member 6 Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

Mankind needs sources of clean power. Photovoltaic (PV) cells, in use since 1839, have proven reliable and practical for certain applications. PV cell efficiency has changed over the years from 1-2% to ultra-high efficiency cells operating at efficiencies greater than 40%. Organic photovoltaics are a potential transformative technology platform. The potential for cell use, efficiency and cost are all parts of the research and development focus at the time this document was written. This research was initiated with a focus on the synthesis and understanding of the variables effecting acceptor-donor block copolymer. The self-assembled morphology resulting from varying volume ratios of each block in the absence and presence of both A and B homopolymers singularly and in combination was examined.

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