Morphology Control in TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanorod/Polythiophene Composites for Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells Using Hydrogen Bonding Ying Lin Qingshuo Wei Gang Qian Li Yao James J. Watkins 10.1021/ma3019393.s001 https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Morphology_Control_in_TiO_sub_2_sub_Nanorod_Polythiophene_Composites_for_Bulk_Heterojunction_Solar_Cells_Using_Hydrogen_Bonding/2470090 Hydrogen bond interactions between a dye adsorbed at the interface of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods and functionalized P3HT was used to control nanorod dispersion, increase interfacial area, and improve efficiency in solution-processable hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cells. A series of poly­(3-hexylthiophene-<i>b</i>-ethylene glycol) (P3HT-<i>b</i>-PEG) copolymers were prepared by a combination of Grignard metathesis polymerization and click chemistry. The short PEG segments in P3HT-<i>b</i>-PEG serve as a hydrogen bond acceptor. TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods functionalized with N3-dye bearing multiple COOH groups function as both the electron acceptor and hydrogen bond donor. The strong preferential H-bonding interaction between TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods and the PEG chain limits the aggregation of the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods and affords homogeneously dispersion of the nanorods within the polymer matrix to form an interpenetrating network. This structure provides large interfacial area between electron donor and acceptor and highly efficient transport pathways within the composite. Hybrid devices constructed from copolymers with 10 wt % PEG and N3-dye TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods exhibit power conversion efficiency ∼50% higher than that of conventional P3HT homopolymer and N3-dye TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods. 2012-11-13 00:00:00 PEG segments TiO 2 nanorods functionalized Morphology Control Hybrid devices Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells P 3HT homopolymer bulk heterojunction electron donor electron acceptor COOH groups function functionalized P 3HT Grignard metathesis polymerization TiO 2 nanorods hydrogen bond donor transport pathways Hydrogen BondingHydrogen bond interactions interpenetrating network hydrogen bond acceptor PEG chain limits P 3HT copolymers polymer matrix control nanorod dispersion click chemistry P 3HT