Abstract: A comonomer comprising: wherein W is selected from the group consisting of: S, Se, O, and N-Q; and Q is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain or branched carbyl, silyl, or hydrocarbyl, a branched or cyclic alkyl with 1 to 30 atoms, a fused substituted aromatic ring, and a fused unsubstituted aromatic ring. In this comonomer, A and B are independently selected from the group consisting of: H, Br, an aryl group, and a heteroaryl group.

Abstract: An organic photovoltaic device comprising a polymer: and an acceptor. In this organic photovoltaic device, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted heteroaryl and an unsubstituted heteroaryl.

Abstract: A polymer comprising In this polymer, R, R?, and R? are independently selected from the group consisting of: H, Cl, F, CN, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, ester, ketone and aryl groups. Additionally, in this polymer X and X? are independently selected from aryl groups.

Abstract: A method comprised of combining form a solution containing a polymer In this polymer R, R?, and R? are independently selected from the group consisting of: H, Cl, F, CN, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, ester, ketone and aryl groups; and X is selected from aryl groups.

Abstract: A polymer comprising: In this embodiment, R? and R?, can be independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted aryl. Additionally, X1 and X2 can be independently selected from the group consisting of: O, S, Se, N—R, and Si—R—R. Lastly, Ar and Ar? can be identical or different and can be independently selected from the group consisting of: a substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted aryl.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for preparing carbon materials which can be used in battery electrodes. More specifically, embodiments relate to methods for preparing nano-ordered carbon products used as anode materials in metal-ion batteries, such as a sodium-ion battery. In some embodiments, a method includes fractioning an initial refinery hydrocarbon product during a fractionation process to produce a liquid refinery hydrocarbon product and a heavy refinery hydrocarbon product. The method includes exposing either or both refinery hydrocarbon products to a first functionalization agent to produce a first solid functionalized product during a first functionalization process and purifying the first solid functionalized product during a purification process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for preparing carbon materials which can be used in battery electrodes. More specifically, embodiments relate to methods for preparing nano-ordered carbon products used as anode materials in metal-ion batteries, such as a lithium-ion battery. In one or more embodiments, a method includes exposing a liquid refinery hydrocarbon product to a first functionalization agent to produce a first solid functionalized product during a first functionalization process and exposing the first solid functionalized product to a second functionalization agent to produce a second solid functionalized product during a second functionalization process. Each of the first and second functionalization agents independently contains an element selected from oxygen, sulfur, phosphorous, nitrogen, or any combination thereof. The method also includes carbonizing the second solid functionalized product at a temperature of about 1,000° C. to about 1,400° C.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to carbon materials for battery electrodes and methods for preparing such carbon materials. More specifically, embodiments relate to coated nano-ordered carbon particles and methods for coating a carbon film onto carbonaceous particles to produce the coated nano-ordered carbon particles which can be used as an anode material within a rechargeable battery, such as a sodium-ion battery, other types of batteries. In one or more embodiments, a method for producing coated nano-ordered carbon particles is provided and includes exposing a carbon-containing material to an expanding agent to produce expanded carbonaceous particles during an expanding process, heating the expanded carbonaceous particles during an annealing process, and depositing a carbon film on the nano-ordered carbon particles to produce coated nano-ordered carbon particles during a carbon coating process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for preparing carbon materials which can be used in battery electrodes. In one or more embodiments, a method for preparing an anode carbon material is provided and includes combining a liquid refinery hydrocarbon product and a solvent to produce a first mixture, combining the first mixture and a first oxidizing agent containing an acid to produce a second mixture containing the liquid refinery hydrocarbon product, the solvent, and the first oxidizing agent, and heating the second mixture to produce a reaction mixture containing an oxidized solid product during an oxidation process. The method also includes separating the oxidized solid product from the reaction mixture during a separation process and carbonizing the oxidized solid product to produce a hard carbon product during a carbonization process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to carbon materials for battery electrodes and methods for preparing such carbon materials. More specifically, embodiments relate to methods for coating a carbon film onto nano-ordered carbon particles to produce carbon-coated particles which can be used as an anode material within a battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, other types of batteries. In one or more embodiments, a method for producing carbon-coated particles is provided and includes positioning nano-ordered carbon particles within a processing region of a processing chamber, purging the processing region containing the nano-ordered carbon particles with an inert gas, heating the nano-ordered carbon particles to a temperature of about 700° C. or greater during an annealing process, and depositing a carbon film on the nano-ordered carbon particles to produce carbon-coated particles during a vapor deposition process.

Abstract: An organic compound comprising: In this organic compound, W is selected from the group consisting of: S, Se, O, and N-Q; and Q is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain or branched carbyl, silyl, or hydrocarbyl, a branched or cyclic alkyl with 1 to 30 atoms, a fused substituted aromatic ring, and a fused unsubstituted aromatic ring. Additionally, in this organic compound Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected from the group selected from: H, an aryl group, and a heteroaryl group.

Abstract: A method of reacting bis(R1) 5,5??-dibromo-3?,4?-difluoro-[2,2?:5?,2?:5?,2??-quaterthiophene]-3,3??-dicarboxylate and bis(R2) 5,5??-dibromo-3?,4?-difluoro-[2,2?:5?,2?:5?,2??-quaterthiophene]-3,3??-dicarboxylate to form the polymer: In this polymer R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted heteroaryl and an unsubstituted heteroaryl.

Abstract: A random copolymer comprising the monomer units A and B. In this random copolymer A comprises and B comprises an aryl group. Additionally, R1 and R2 are side chains independently selected from the group consisting of: H, Cl, F, CN, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, ester, ketone and aryl groups. X1 and X2 are independently selected from the group consisting of: H, Cl, F, CN, alkyl, alkoxy, ester, ketone, amide and aryl groups.

Abstract: An organic photovoltaic device comprising a polymer: and an acceptor. In this organic photovoltaic device, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted heteroaryl and an unsubstituted heteroaryl.

Abstract: A process of reacting a monomer unit containing chlorobenzothiadiazole or fluorochlorobenzothiadiazole in a solvent to produce a polymer with a reaction yield greater than 60%. In this process the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A comonomer comprising: wherein W is selected from the group consisting of: S, Se, O, and N-Q; and Q is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain or branched carbyl, silyl, or hydrocarbyl, a branched or cyclic alkyl with 1 to 30 atoms, a fused substituted aromatic ring, and a fused unsubstituted aromatic ring. In this comonomer, A and B are independently selected from the group consisting of: H, Br, an aryl group, and a heteroaryl group.

Abstract: An organic compound comprising: In this organic compound, W is selected from the group consisting of: S, Se, O, and N-Q; and Q is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain or branched carbyl, silyl, or hydrocarbyl, a branched or cyclic alkyl with 1 to 30 atoms, a fused substituted aromatic ring, and a fused unsubstituted aromatic ring. Additionally, in this organic compound Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected from the group selected from: H, an aryl group, and a heteroaryl group.

Abstract: A polymer comprising: In this embodiment, R? and R?, can be independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted aryl. Additionally, X1 and X2 can be independently selected from the group consisting of: O, S, Se, N—R, and Si—R—R. Lastly, Ar and Ar? can be identical or different and can be independently selected from the group consisting of: a substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted aryl.

Abstract: A method of reacting bis(R1) 5,5??-dibromo-3?,4?-difluoro-[2,2?:5?,2?:5?,2??-quaterthiophene]-3,3??-dicarboxylate and bis(R2) 5,5??-dibromo-3?,4?-difluoro-[2,2?:5?,2?:5?,2??-quaterthiophene]-3,3??-dicarboxylate to form the polymer: In this polymer R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted heteroaryl and an unsubstituted heteroaryl.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods of forming an apparatus using a solution shearing process. An example method includes providing a shearing blade on a portion of a substrate coated with a polymeric conductor material and controlling generation of a transparent and conductive polymer film on the substrate by moving the shearing blade in a direction, to generate shear stress to the polymeric conductor material, and according to shearing deposition parameters.