Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and materials for preparing organic semiconducting layers, for example one used in an organic semiconductor device including a substrate with a nanostructured surface and a polymeric semiconductor film overlying the nanostructured surface. Aspects of the invention use capillary action to modulate polymer chain self-assembly on a surface and unidirectional alignment at a critical buried interface where charge carriers migrate between a dielectric and the polymer. By controlling the properties of the surfaces upon which polymers are disposed, artisans can enhance the transistor saturated mobilities of conjugated polymers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and materials for preparing organic semiconducting layers, for example one used in an organic semiconductor device including a substrate with a nanostructured surface and a polymeric semiconductor film overlying the nanostructured surface. Aspects of the invention use capillary action to modulate polymer chain self-assembly on a surface and unidirectional alignment at a critical buried interface where charge carriers migrate between a dielectric and the polymer. By controlling the properties of the surfaces upon which polymers are disposed, artisans can enhance the transistor saturated mobilities of conjugated polymers.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving soluble conjugated polymers are provided. The conjugated polymers have a sufficient density of polar substituents to render them soluble in a polar medium, for example water and/or methanol. The conjugated polymer may desirably comprise monomers which alter its conductivity properties. In some embodiments, the inventors have provided cationic conjugated polymers (CCPs) comprising both solubilizing groups and conductive groups, resulting in conductive conjugated polymers soluble in polar media. The different solubility properties of these polymers allow their deposition in solution in multilayer formats with other conjugated polymers. Also provided are articles of manufacture comprising multiple layers of conjugated polymers having differing solubility characteristics. Embodiments of the invention are described further herein.

Abstract: An electronic device which comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, an active polymer layer between the first and the second electrodes, and a passivating layer adapted to enhance the lifetime of the electronic device. The passivating layer comprises a substantially amorphous titanium oxide having the formula of TiOx where x represents a number from 1 to 1.96.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell which comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoactive, charge-separating layer comprising a semiconducting polymer between the first and the second electrodes, and a passivatng layer adapted to enhance the lifetime of the photovoltaic cell. The passivating layer comprises a substantially amorphous titanium oxide having the formula of TiOx where x represents a number from 1 to 1.96.

Abstract: A reagentless, reusable bioelectronic DNA, or other oligonucleotide sequence sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes an oligonucleotide (aptamer) probe tagged with a electroactive, redoxable moiety, self-assembled on or near an electrode. This surface-confined oligonucleotide (aptamer) probe structure undergoes hybridization-induced conformational change in the presence of the target which changes the electron-transfer distance between the redoxable moiety and the electrode thereby providing a detectable signal change. In an alternative embodiment, the target can harbor the redoxable moiety.

Abstract: High efficiency polymer photovoltaic cells have been fabricated using an optical spacer between the active layer and the electron-collecting electrode. Such cells exhibit approximately 50% enhancement in power conversion efficiency. The spacer layer increases the efficiency by modifying the spatial distribution of the light intensity inside the device, thereby creating more photogenerated charge carriers in the bulk heterojunction layer.

Abstract: High efficiency polymer photovoltaic cells have been fabricated using an optical spacer between the active layer and the electron-collecting electrode. Such cells exhibit approximately 50% enhancement in power conversion efficiency. The spacer layer increases the efficiency by modifying the spatial distribution of the light intensity inside the device, thereby creating more photogenerated charge carriers in the bulk heterojunction layer.

Abstract: Polymer photovoltaic cells, as well related modules and methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: Multilayer polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) are demonstrated using semiconducting polymers blended with organometallic emitters as the emissive layer and one or both of an electron transport layer and a hole transparent layer on the appropriate electron injection and hole injection sides of the emissive layer. The transport layers reduce energy potential gaps between the hole injection electrode and the emissive polymer and between the electron injection electrode and the emissive polymer. A solvent-processing based procedure for preparing these devices is also disclosed It uses nonpolar solvent-based solutions of emissive polymers to form the emissive layer and polar solvent-based solutions to form the transport layers to minimize etching and other undesirable interactions as the multiple layers are being laid down.

Abstract: Organic FETs are produced having high mobilities in the accumulation mode and in the depletion mode. Significantly higher mobility is obtained from FETs in which RR-P3HT film is applied by dip-coating to a thickness of only about 20 ? to 1 ?m. It was found that the structural order of the semiconducting polymer at the interface between the semiconducting polymer and the SiO2 gate-insulator is important for achieving high carrier mobility. Heat-treatment under an inert atmosphere also was found to increase the on/off ratio of the FET.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving soluble conjugated polymers are provided. The conjugated polymers have a sufficient density of polar substituents to render them soluble in a polar medium, for example water and/or methanol. The conjugated polymers may desirably comprise monomers which alter their conductivity properties. The different solubility properties of these polymers allow their deposition in solution in multilayer formats with other conjugated polymers. Also provided are articles of manufacture comprising multiple layers of conjugated polymers having differing solubility characteristics. Embodiments of the invention are described further herein.

Abstract: Visible light LEDs are produced having a layer of conjugated polymer which is cast directly from solution or formed as a gel-processed admixture with a carrier polymer. The LEDs can be formed so as to emit polarized light.

Abstract: A reagentless, reusable bioelectronic DNA, or other oligonucleotide sequence sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes an oligonucleotide probe tagged with a electroactive, redoxable moiety, self-assembled on or near an electrode. This surface-confined oligonucleotide probe structure undergoes hybridization-induced conformational change in the presence of the target oligonculeotide sequence which change the electron-transfer distance between the redoxable moiety and the electrode thereby providing a detectable signal change. In an alternative embodiment, the target can harbor the redoxable moiety. In a preferred application, the target sequence is associated with an object and its detection is correlated with the authenticity of the object.

Abstract: White light-emitting electrophosphorescent polymeric light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) are demonstrated using semiconducting polymers blended with organometallic emitters as emissive materials in a common region. These materials may be cast from solution. The CIE coordinates, the color temperatures and the color rendering indices of the white emission are insensitive to the brightness, applied voltage and applied current density.

Abstract: A self-doped conducting polymer having along its backbone a .pi.-electron conjugated system which comprises a plurality of monomer units, between about 0.01 and 100 mole % of the units having covalently linked thereto at least one Bronsted acid group. The conductive zwitterionic polymer is also provided. as are monomers useful in the preparation of the polymer and electrodes comprising the polymer.

Abstract: A self-doped conducting polymer having along its backbone a .pi.-electron conjugated system which comprises a plurality of monomer units, between about 0.01 and 100 mole % of the units having covalently linked thereto at least one Bronsted acid group. The conductive zwitterionic polymer is also provided, as are monomers useful in the preparation of the polymer and electrodes comprising the polymer.

Abstract: A self-doped conducting polymer having along its backbone a .pi.-electron conjugated system which comprises a plurality of monomer units, between about 0.01 and 100 mole % of the units having covalently linked thereto at least one Bronsted acid group. The conductive zwitterionic polymer is also provided, as are monomers useful in the preparation of the polymer and electrodes comprising the polymer.

Abstract: A self-doped conducting polymer having along its backbone a .pi.-electron conjugated system which comprises a plurality of monomer units, between about 0.01 and 100 mole % of the units having covalently linked thereto at least one Bronsted acid group. The conductive zwitterionic polymer is also provided, as are monomers useful in the preparation of the polymer and electrodes comprising the polymer.

Abstract: A self-doped conducting polymer having along its backbone a .pi.-electron conjugated system which comprises a plurality of monomer units, between about 0.01 and 100 mole % of the units having covalently linked thereto at least one Bronsted acid group. The conductive zwitterionic polymer is also provided, as are monomers useful in the preparation of the polymer and electrodes comprising the polymer.