Rational Design, Synthesis, and Structure-Property Relationship Studies of a Library of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Films as an Effective and Scalable Encapsulation Material for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Hybrid organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology is experiencing rapid growth due to its simple solution chemistry, high power conversion efficiency (PCE), and potential for low-cost mass production. Nevertheless, the primary obstacle preventing the upscaling and widespread outdoor deployment of PSC technology is the poor long-term device stability, which stems from the inherent instability of perovskite materials in the presence of oxygen and moisture. To address this issue, in this work, we have synthesized a series of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) through a rational design by utilizing polyols having different molecular weights and diverse isocyanates (aromatic and aliphatic). Thorough characterization of these TPUs (ASTM and ISO standards) along with structure-property relationship studies were carried out for the first time and were then used as the encapsulation material for PSCs. The prepared TPUs were robust and adhered well with the glass substrate, and the use of low temperature during the encapsulation process avoided the degradation of the perovskite absorber and other organic layers in the device stack. The encapsulated devices retained more than 93% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) for over 1000 h after exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as high relative humidity (80 ± 5% RH). Furthermore, the encapsulated perovskite absorbers showed remarkable stability when they were soaked in water. This article demonstrates the potential of TPU as a suitable and easily scalable encapsulant for PSCs and pave the way for extending the lifetime and commercialization of PSCs.

Biodegradable isocyanate-free polyurethane films via a noncatalytic route: facile modified polycaprolactone triol and biobased diamine as precursors.

A facile synthesis of isocyanate free polyurethanes (PU) was executed by the reaction of biodegradable cyclic carbonate and sustainable diamines generated via chemical modification. The biodegradable polyol polycaprolactone triol (PCL) was transformed into a new glycerol carbonate derivative, PCL-(COOGC)3, and subjected to polyaddition with the diamines linalool diamine (LLDA), isosorbide diamine (ISODA) and hexamethylene diamine (HDA). Polyaddition of PCL-(COOGC)3 with the above diamine precursors was conducted via a one-pot reaction under catalyst-free reaction conditions prior to film casting. The above precursors were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, high-resolution mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, whereas the PU films were studied by attenuated total reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy, solid state 13C NMR, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. High onset degradation temperature (T d) values were observed for the PU films PU-1 (345.8 °C), PU-2 (309.6 °C) and PU-3 (344.6 °C), and further studies, including cross-link density, water contact angle, swelling behaviour and biodegradation (phosphate-buffered saline medium, pH = 7.2 at 45 °C) measurements, were conducted.

The silicate-mediated formose reaction: bottom-up synthesis of sugar silicates.

Understanding the mechanism of sugar formation and stabilization is important for constraining theories on the abiotic origin of complex biomolecules. Although previous studies have produced sugars from small molecules through the formose and related reactions, the product mixtures are complex and unstable. We have demonstrated that simple two- and three-carbon molecules (glycolaldehyde and glyceraldehyde), in the presence of aqueous sodium silicate, spontaneously form silicate complexes of four- and six-carbon sugars, respectively. Silicate selects for sugars with a specific stereochemistry and sequesters them from rapid decomposition. Given the abundance of silicate minerals, these observations suggest that formose-like reactions may provide a feasible pathway for the abiotic formation of biologically important sugars, such as ribose.