Abstract: A method of preparing an article comprises applying a first composition having a first refractive index R11 on a substrate to form a first layer (14). The method further comprises applying a curing condition to a target portion (18) of the first layer, without applying the curing condition to a non-target portion (16), to form a contrast layer including at least one cured portion and at least one uncured portion. In addition, the method comprises applying a second composition having a second refractive index R12 on the contrast layer to form a second layer, wherein a portion of the second layer and the at least one uncured portion of the contrast layer intermix to form at least one intermixed portion having a third refractive index R13.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of forming a film of an insoluble conjugated polymer (CP) by deposition of an ionic CP from aqueous solution and converting the ionic CP to the insoluble CP. The ionic CP can be the salt of a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid, boronic acid, amine, imine, phosphine, thioether, or complexed bidentate or polydentate ligand. The insoluble CP film can be used with an aqueous electrolyte solution for use as: an electrochromic film; charge injection layer for a solar cell, LED, and FET; conventional paints; supercapacitor; battery; electronic paper; anti-static coating; transparent conductor; sensors; anti-microbial coating; adhesive; RFID; or memory system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to Ge comprising heterocyclic compounds which can be used for the preparation of homopolymers and copolymers. The copolymers can be donor-acceptor (DA) alternating copolymers where the donor unit is a Ge comprising heterocyclic unit. The polymers can be used as materials in solar cells and other photovoltaic devices, transistors, diodes, light emitting devices (LEDs), conductors, supercapacitors, batteries, and electrochromic devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to Ge comprising heterocyclic compounds which can be used for the preparation of homopolymers and copolymers. The copolymers can be donor-acceptor (DA) alternating copolymers where the donor unit is a Ge comprising heterocyclic unit. The polymers can be used as materials in solar cells and other photovoltaic devices, transistors, diodes, light emitting devices (LEDs), conductors, supercapacitors, batteries, and electrochromic devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to yellow-to-transmissive conjugated polymers, a method to prepare the yellow conjugated polymers, the use of the yellow conjugated polymers in an electrochromic and/or electroluminescent device comprising neutral state primary subtractive colored conjugated polymers, and a method to prepare the device comprising the yellow conjugated polymer. The yellow conjugated polymers comprise a sequence of dioxythiophene units alternating with aromatic units, thiophene units, furan units, and/or pyrrole units. The yellow conjugated polymers are prepared by cross-condensation reactions. The yellow conjugated polymers can be soluble and preparation of the device involves deposition of the yellow conjugated polymer from solution onto a surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to alternating donor-acceptor (DA) polymers that are soluble and display a blue or green neutral state that oxidizes to a transmissive state for use as an electrochromic polymer. The D units have 3,4-dioxythiophene, 3,6-dialkoxythieno[3,2-b]thiophene or 3,5-dialkoxy-dithieno[3,2-b:2?,3?-d]thiophene groups. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for preparation of the alternating DA polymeric sequences of the DA polymers by a cross-condensation of a nucleophilic acceptor monomer and an electrophilic donor monomer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to random conjugated copolymers comprising a plurality of one or more different donor (D) repeating units and a plurality of at least one acceptor (A) repeating unit. At least one of the D units has a solubilizing substituent, statistically a portion of the A repeating units are separated from each other by only one D units and a plurality of the A unit are adjacent to one the D units having the solubilizing substituents. The random conjugated copolymers are black or colored in the neutral state and highly transmissive in the oxidized state. The random conjugated copolymers have the structure -[(D)xA]n-, where x>1 and n(x+1)?10 or the structure -[(DA))x-(D?A)y]n-, where D represents one substituted D unit and D? represents another D units and where x?1, y?1 and 2n(x+y)?10.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to yellow-to-transmissive conjugated polymers, a method to prepare the yellow conjugated polymers, the use of the yellow conjugated polymers in an electrochromic and/or electroluminescent device comprising neutral state primary subtractive colored conjugated polymers, and a method to prepare the device comprising the yellow conjugated polymer. The yellow conjugated polymers comprise a sequence of dioxythiophene units alternating with aromatic units, thiophene units, furan units, and/or pyrrole units. The yellow conjugated polymers are prepared by cross-condensation reactions. The yellow conjugated polymers can be soluble and preparation of the device involves deposition of the yellow conjugated polymer from solution onto a surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to alternating donor-acceptor (DA) polymers that are soluble and display a blue or green neutral state that oxidizes to a transmissive state for use as an electrochromic polymer. The D units have 3,4-dioxythiophene, 3,6-dialkoxythieno[3,2-b]thiophene or 3,5-dialkoxy-dithieno[3,2-b:2?,3?-d]thiophene groups. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for preparation of the alternating DA polymeric sequences of the DA polymers by a cross-condensation of a nucleophilic acceptor monomer and an electrophilic donor monomer.

Abstract: A soluble fused donor-acceptor conjugated polymer (fDA-CP) is prepared that absorbs light throughout nearly all the visible spectrum and is essentially black to the human eye when in the neutral state. The conjugated polymer has acceptor units that are isolated by a plurality of fused donor units. The fDA-CP assumes a conformation that results in a close ?-stacking between adjacent lamella with a separation of less than 4.5 ? in the solid state and extended conjugation to promote high charge carrier mobilities. The fDA-CP is prepared by the polycondensation of a plurality of at least one fused donor-acceptor oligomer (fDA-oligomer) that has a flat internal acceptor unit and at least one fused donor unit incorporated in the oligomers, and optionally, an additional conjugated aromatic monomer or oligomer copolymerized with the fDA-oligomers.

Abstract: An organic PV solar cell that has an anode double interlayer situated between an electrode and an organic photoactive layer displays superior power conversion efficiency over that of equivalent devices with an anode single interlayer. The anode double layer can comprise a hole extraction layer adjacent to the anode and an organic hole accepting electron blocking material layer that comprises an aromatic amine compound with a plurality of N atoms. The hole extraction layer can be a metal oxide or an n-type organic semiconductor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to yellow-to-transmissive conjugated polymers, a method to prepare the yellow conjugated polymers, the use of the yellow conjugated polymers in an electrochromic and/or electroluminescent device comprising neutral state primary subtractive colored conjugated polymers, and a method to prepare the device comprising the yellow conjugated polymer. The yellow conjugated polymers comprise a sequence of dioxythiophene units alternating with aromatic units, thiophene units, furan units, and/or pyrrole units. The yellow conjugated polymers are prepared by cross-condensation reactions. The yellow conjugated polymers can be soluble and preparation of the device involves deposition of the yellow conjugated polymer from solution onto a surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of forming a film of an insoluble conjugated polymer (CP) by deposition of an ionic CP from aqueous solution and converting the ionic CP to the insoluble CP. The ionic CP can be the salt of a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid, boronic acid, amine, imine, phosphine, thioether, or complexed bidentate or polydentate ligand. The insoluble CP film can be used with an aqueous electrolyte solution for use as: an electrochromic film; charge injection layer for a solar cell, LED, and FET; conventional paints; supercapacitor; battery; electronic paper; anti-static coating; transparent conductor; sensors; anti-microbial coating; adhesive; RFID; or memory system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to random conjugated copolymers comprising a plurality of one or more different donor (D) repeating units and a plurality of at least one acceptor (A) repeating unit. At least one of the D units has a solubilizing substituent, statistically a portion of the A repeating units are separated from each other by only one D units and a plurality of the A unit are adjacent to one the D units having the solubilizing substituents. The random conjugated copolymers are black or colored in the neutral state and highly transmissive in the oxidized state. The random conjugated copolymers have the structure -[(D)xA]n-, where x>1 and n(x+1)?10 or the structure -[(DA))x-(D?Ay]n-, where D represents one substituted D unit and D? represents another D units and where x?1, y?1 and 2n(x+y)?10.

Abstract: A soluble fused donor-acceptor conjugated polymer (fDA-CP) is prepared that absorbs light throughout nearly all the visible spectrum and is essentially black to the human eye when in the neutral state. The conjugated polymer has acceptor units that are isolated by a plurality of fused donor units. The fDA-CP assumes a conformation that results in a close ?-stacking between adjacent lamella with a separation of less than 4.5 ? in the solid state and extended conjugation to promote high charge carrier mobilities. The fDA-CP is prepared by the polycondensation of a plurality of at least one fused donor-acceptor oligomer (fDA-oligomer) that has a flat internal acceptor unit and at least one fused donor unit incorporated in the oligomers, and optionally, an additional conjugated aromatic monomer or oligomer copolymerized with the fDA-oligomers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to alternating donor-acceptor (DA) polymers that are soluble and display a blue or green neutral state that oxidizes to a transmissive state for use as an electrochromic polymer. The D units have 3,4-dioxythiophene, 3,6-dialkoxythieno[3,2-b]thiophene or 3,5-dialkoxy-dithieno[3,2-b:2?,3?-d]thiophene groups. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for preparation of the alternating DA polymeric sequences of the DA polymers by a cross-condensation of a nucleophilic acceptor monomer and an electrophilic donor monomer.