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Mingliang Sun

Bio: Mingliang Sun is an academic researcher from Ocean University of China. The author has contributed to research in topics: Polymer solar cell & Organic solar cell. The author has an hindex of 28, co-authored 112 publications receiving 2253 citations. Previous affiliations of Mingliang Sun include South China University of Technology & City University of Hong Kong.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An effective but easily navigable approach is demonstrated to modulate the crystallinity of SMAs toward synergistically improved morphologies and molecular orientations of bulk heterojunction enabling highly efficient OSCs.
Abstract: Research on fused-ring small-molecular-acceptors (SMAs) has deeply advanced the development of organic solar cells (OSCs). Compared to fruitful studies of ladder-type cores and end-caps of SMAs, the exploration of side chains is monotonous. The widely utilized alkyl and aryl side chains usually produce a conflicting association between SMAs' crystallinity and miscibility. Herein, a fresh idea about the modification of side chains is reported to explore the subtle balance between the crystallinity and miscibility. Specifically, a phenyl is introduced to the tail of the alkyl side chain whereby a new acceptor IDIC-C4Ph is reported. Moderately weakened crystallinity is observed, while maintaining preferred absorption profiles and face-on orientations. Concurrently, remarkably improved heterojunction morphologies and stacking orientations are detected. PBDB-T:IDIC-C4Ph devices exhibit greater efficiency of 11.50% than devices from alky and aryl modified acceptors. Notably, the as-cast OSCs of PBDB-TF:IDIC-C4Ph reveal outstanding FF over 76% with the best efficiency up to 13.23%. The annealed devices reveal further increased efficiency exceeding 14% with the state of the art FF of 78.32%. Overall, an effective but easily navigable approach is demonstrated to modulate the crystallinity of SMAs toward synergistically improved morphologies and molecular orientations of bulk heterojunction enabling highly efficient OSCs.

186 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The 3D network structure of NiCo2S4 nanosheets offers the additional advantages of large surface area, efficient electron and ion transport capability, easy access of electrolyte to the electrode surface, sufficient void space and mechanical robustness as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: We present the design and synthesis of three-dimensional (3D)-networked NiCo2S4 nanosheet arrays (NSAs) grown on carbon cloth along with their novel application as anodes in lithium-ion batteries The relatively small (~60%) volumetric expansion of NiCo2S4 nanosheets during the lithiation process was confirmed by in situ transmission electron microscopy and is attributed to their mesoporous nature The 3D network structure of NiCo2S4 nanosheets offers the additional advantages of large surface area, efficient electron and ion transport capability, easy access of electrolyte to the electrode surface, sufficient void space and mechanical robustness The fabricated electrodes exhibited outstanding lithium-storage performance including high specific capacity, excellent cycling stability and high rate of performance A reversible capacity of ~1275 mAh g−1 was obtained at a current density of 1000 mA g−1, and the devices retained ~1137 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, which is the highest value reported to date for electrodes made of metal sulfide nanostructures or their composites Our results suggest that 3D-networked NiCo2S4 NSA/carbon cloth composites are a promising material for electrodes in high-performance lithium-ion batteries Three-dimensional networks of NiCo2S4 nanosheets on carbon cloth substrates are highly promising as anodes for lithium-ion batteries Nanostructures made from metal sulphides make attractive anode materials for lithium-ion batteries except they tend to undergo large volume changes during electrochemical reactions, which lead to reduced capacity and poor cycling stability Now, Wenjun Zhang and colleagues at City University of Hong Kong and Donghua University in Shanghai have demonstrated that NiCo2S4 nanosheet arrays on carbon cloths expand by only about 60% during lithiation as a result of their mesoporous structure Furthermore, the arrays exhibited the highest specific capacity of any metal sulphide electrode reported to date as well as an excellent cycling stability and a high rate capability They are thus excellent candidates for anode materials in high-performance lithium-ion batteries 3D Networked NiCo2S4 nanosheet array/carbon cloth composites are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal reaction and subsequent sulfurization process, and the rational material composition and structure design lead to their outstanding overall performance as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries

159 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A composite of pyrite FeS2 microspheres wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (FeS2/rGO) has been synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method and applied as an anode in lithium ion batteries as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A composite of pyrite FeS2 microspheres wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (FeS2/rGO) has been synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method and applied as an anode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Impedance measurements and transmission electron microscopy show that incorporation of rGO significantly decreases the charge transfer resistance and improves the structural stability of the composite. As an anode material for LIBs, the composite exhibits a high capacity of 970 mA h g−1 at a current density of 890 mA g−1 after 300 cycles. Additionally, this composite anode shows impressive performance especially at high current densities. The LIB shows a capacity of 380 mA h g−1 even at a high current density of 8900 mA g−1 (10C) over 2000 cycles, demonstrating its potential for applications in LIBs with long cycling life and high power density.

132 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work provides a new approach to design prospective organic optoelectronic materials employing the symmetry-breaking strategy and improves the photovoltaic properties of the asymmetric BDT-based polymers.
Abstract: Two 1D-2D asymmetric benzodithiophenes (BDTs) as donor building blocks are designed and synthesized, combining the advantages of both 1D and 2D symmetric BDTs. The photovoltaic properties of the asymmetric BDT-based polymers are improved greatly in comparison with corresponding symmetric BDT-based polymers. This work provides a new approach to design prospective organic optoelectronic materials employing the symmetry-breaking strategy.

93 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a halogen-free solvent system consisting of o-xylene (XY) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) was successfully applied in the fabrication of the PSCs based on a variety of highly efficient polymers including PBDT-TS1 and other eight types of photovoltaic polymers.
Abstract: Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of state-of-the-art polymer solar cells (PSCs) have been promoted to over 9%. However, halogenated solvents like chlorobenzene (CB), o-dichlorobenzene (DCB), 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) or their mixtures are still predominately used in the fabrication of these high performance PSCs. With the rapid progress in PCEs, removing the halogenated solvents from the fabrication processes of PSCs becomes an urgent task for the practical utilization of PSC technology. In this study, a halogen-free solvent system consisting of o-xylene (XY) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) was successfully applied in the fabrication of the PSCs based on a variety of highly efficient polymers including PBDT-TS1 and other eight types of photovoltaic polymers. Notably, utilizing an XY–2% NMP mixture as a processing solvent, the PBDT-TS1/PC71BM-based PSC realized a PCE of 9.47%, which has been the highest value in halogen-free solvent processed PSCs until now. The photovoltaic properties and nanoscale morphology clearly indicated that the halogen-free solvent system featuring the XY–NMP mixture can replace the role of the widely utilized halogenated solvents in fabricating environmentally friendly PSCs with high efficiency.

92 citations


Cited by
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TL;DR: In this paper, the synergistic effects of a hydrocarbon solvent, a novel additive, a suitable choice of polymer side chain, and strong temperature-dependent aggregation of the donor polymer are used to produce active layers of organic solar cells in an environmentally friendly way.
Abstract: Organic solar cells have desirable properties, including low cost of materials, high-throughput roll-to-roll production, mechanical flexibility and light weight. However, all top-performance devices are at present processed using halogenated solvents, which are environmentally hazardous and would thus require expensive mitigation to contain the hazards. Attempts to process organic solar cells from non-halogenated solvents lead to inferior performance. Overcoming this hurdle, here we present a hydrocarbon-based processing system that is not only more environmentally friendly but also yields cells with power conversion efficiencies of up to 11.7%. Our processing system incorporates the synergistic effects of a hydrocarbon solvent, a novel additive, a suitable choice of polymer side chain, and strong temperature-dependent aggregation of the donor polymer. Our results not only demonstrate a method of producing active layers of organic solar cells in an environmentally friendly way, but also provide important scientific insights that will facilitate further improvement of the morphology and performance of organic solar cells. The processing of high-performance organic solar cells usually requires environmentally hazardous solvents. Now, hydrocarbon-based processing is shown to achieve relatively high performance in a more environmentally friendly way.

2,052 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A nonfullerene-based polymer solar cell (PSC) that significantly outperforms fullerene -based PSCs with respect to the power-conversion efficiency and excellent thermal stability is demonstrated for the first time.
Abstract: A nonfullerene-based polymer solar cell (PSC) that significantly outperforms fullerene-based PSCs with respect to the power-conversion efficiency is demonstrated for the first time. An efficiency of >11%, which is among the top values in the PSC field, and excellent thermal stability is obtained using PBDB-T and ITIC as donor and acceptor, respectively.

1,662 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of TADF materials is presented, with a focus on linking their optoelectronic behavior with the performance of the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and related EL devices.
Abstract: We thank the University of St Andrews for support. EZ-C thanks the Leverhulme Trust for financial support (RPG-2016-047). and the EPSRC (EP/P010482/1) for financial support.

1,317 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The motivation to replace fullerene acceptors stems from their synthetic inflexibility, leading to constraints in manipulating frontier energy levels, as well as poor absorption in the solar spectrum range, and an inherent tendency to undergo postfabrication crystallization, resulting in device instability.
Abstract: ConspectusThe active layer in a solution processed organic photovoltaic device comprises a light absorbing electron donor semiconductor, typically a polymer, and an electron accepting fullerene acceptor. Although there has been huge effort targeted to optimize the absorbing, energetic, and transport properties of the donor material, fullerenes remain as the exclusive electron acceptor in all high performance devices. Very recently, some new non-fullerene acceptors have been demonstrated to outperform fullerenes in comparative devices. This Account describes this progress, discussing molecular design considerations and the structure–property relationships that are emerging.The motivation to replace fullerene acceptors stems from their synthetic inflexibility, leading to constraints in manipulating frontier energy levels, as well as poor absorption in the solar spectrum range, and an inherent tendency to undergo postfabrication crystallization, resulting in device instability. New acceptors have to address ...

1,026 citations