W. J. Feast

Bio: W. J. Feast is an academic researcher from Durham University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Polyacetylene & Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation. The author has an hindex of 28, co-authored 89 publications receiving 3523 citations.

Indium-tin oxide treatments for single- and double-layer polymeric light-emitting diodes: The relation between the anode physical, chemical, and morphological properties and the device performance

Abstract: We report combined studies of the influence of chemical and physical treatments on the properties of indium–tin oxide (ITO) thin films. The ITO films were also used as transparent anodes of polymeric light-emitting diodes (LEDs) incorporating poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) as the emitter material, with, or without, doped poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as a hole-injection/transport layer. Structures based on a soluble green derivative of PPV, poly(4,4′-diphenylene diphenylvinylene) were also tested. We studied chemical (aquaregia, degreasing, RCA protocol) and physical (oxygen and argon plasmas, Teflon, and paper rubbing) treatments and, in contrast to recently published work, we find that for Balzer Baltracon ITO, oxygen plasma and not aquaregia yields the highest efficiencies and luminances and the lowest drive voltages. For oxygen-plasma-treated anodes, the device efficiency clearly correlates with the value of the ITO surface work function, which in turn depends on the time of treatment. I...

Built-in field electroabsorption spectroscopy of polymer light-emitting diodes incorporating a doped poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) hole injection layer

Abstract: We report electroabsorption measurements of polymer light-emitting diodes, (LEDs), fabricated with poly(4-4′-diphenylene diphenylvinylene), PDPV, as the emissive layer, Ca–Al cathodes, and indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes, with and without a doped conducting polymer hole injection/transport layer, namely poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene), PEDOT, doped with poly(styrene sulfonate), PSS−. In these structures, the bias at which the electroabsorption signal is null corresponds to the difference between the electrodes’ work functions. We find that such a built-in voltage increases by 0.5 V when a PEDOT:PSS film is incorporated between the ITO electrode and the emissive layer. This leads to a marked reduction of the anode barrier height at the hole-injecting interface, and accounts for a variety of improvements brought about by the PEDOT insertion, namely: (a) the increase of luminescence efficiency, (b) the reduction of the turn-on voltage, and (c) the increase of the device lifetime.

Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of 2,3-Difunctionalized- Norbornadienes by Mo(CH-t-Bu)(N-2,6-C(6)H(3)-i-Pr(2)(O-t-Bu)(2)

Abstract: : Benzonorbornadiene 2,3-dicarbomethoxynorbornadiene and 2,3- bis(trifluoromethyl)norbornadiene can be polymerized by Mo(CH-t-Bu)(NAr)(O-t-Bu) 2(Mo(CH-t-Bu)) in a well-behaved living manner to give essentially monodisperse homopolymers. Two of the polymers and (especially) poly 5 are highly trans, and are believed to be tactic. The rate of polymerization is approximately thirty times faster at room temperature, a factor of approximately ten of which can be ascribed to the lower reactivity and the remainder to the lower reactivity relative to 7-Isopropylidene-2-3-dicarbomethoxynorbornadiene is not polymerized at all by Mo(CH-t-Bu), although it does react with Mo(CH-t-Bu). An X-ray structure shows it to be a pseudo-tetrhedral species containing a syn alkylidene ligand (substituent pointing toward the imido nitrogen atom).

Conjugated polymer-based organic solar cells

Abstract: The need to develop inexpensive renewable energy sources stimulates scientific research for efficient, low-cost photovoltaic devices.1 The organic, polymer-based photovoltaic elements have introduced at least the potential of obtaining cheap and easy methods to produce energy from light.2 The possibility of chemically manipulating the material properties of polymers (plastics) combined with a variety of easy and cheap processing techniques has made polymer-based materials present in almost every aspect of modern society.3 Organic semiconductors have several advantages: (a) lowcost synthesis, and (b) easy manufacture of thin film devices by vacuum evaporation/sublimation or solution cast or printing technologies. Furthermore, organic semiconductor thin films may show high absorption coefficients4 exceeding 105 cm-1, which makes them good chromophores for optoelectronic applications. The electronic band gap of organic semiconductors can be engineered by chemical synthesis for simple color changing of light emitting diodes (LEDs).5 Charge carrier mobilities as high as 10 cm2/V‚s6 made them competitive with amorphous silicon.7 This review is organized as follows. In the first part, we will give a general introduction to the materials, production techniques, working principles, critical parameters, and stability of the organic solar cells. In the second part, we will focus on conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells, mainly on polyphenylenevinylene (PPV) derivatives/(1-(3-methoxycarbonyl) propyl-1-phenyl[6,6]C61) (PCBM) fullerene derivatives and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/PCBM systems. In the third part, we will discuss the alternative approaches such as polymer/polymer solar cells and organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells. In the fourth part, we will suggest possible routes for further improvements and finish with some conclusions. The different papers mentioned in the text have been chosen for didactical purposes and cannot reflect the chronology of the research field nor have a claim of completeness. The further interested reader is referred to the vast amount of quality papers published in this field during the past decade.

The Development of L2X2RuCHR Olefin Metathesis Catalysts: An Organometallic Success Story

Abstract: In recent years, the olefin metathesis reaction has attracted widespread attention as a versatile carbon−carbon bond-forming method. Many new applications have become possible because of major advances in catalyst design. State-of-the-art ruthenium catalysts are not only highly active but also compatible with most functional groups and easy to use. This Account traces the ideas and discoveries that were instrumental in the development of these catalysts, with particular emphasis on (PCy3)2Cl2RuCHPh and its derivatives. The discussion includes an analysis of trends in catalyst activity, a description of catalysts coordinated with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, and an overview of ongoing work to improve the activity, stability, and selectivity of this family of L2X2RuCHR complexes.

High-Resolution Inkjet Printing of All-Polymer Transistor Circuits

Abstract: Direct printing of functional electronic materials may provide a new route to low-cost fabrication of integrated circuits. However, to be useful it must allow continuous manufacturing of all circuit components by successive solution deposition and printing steps in the same environment. We demonstrate direct inkjet printing of complete transistor circuits, including via-hole interconnections based on solution-processed polymer conductors, insulators, and self-organizing semiconductors. We show that the use of substrate surface energy patterning to direct the flow of water-based conducting polymer inkjet droplets enables high-resolution definition of practical channel lengths of 5 micrometers. High mobilities of 0.02 square centimeters per volt second and on-off current switching ratios of 10 5 were achieved.

Small molecular weight organic thin-film photodetectors and solar cells

Abstract: In this review, we discuss the physics underlying the operation of single and multiple heterojunction, vacuum-deposited organic solar cells based on small molecular weight thin films. For single heterojunction cells, we find that the need for direct contact between the deposited electrode and the active organics leads to quenching of excitons. An improved device architecture, the double heterojunction, is shown to confine excitons within the active layers, allowing substantially higher internal efficiencies to be achieved. A full optical and electrical analysis of the double heterostructure architecture leads to optimal cell design as a function of the optical properties and exciton diffusion lengths of the photoactive materials. Combining the double heterostructure with novel light trapping schemes, devices with external efficiencies approaching their internal efficiency are obtained. When applied to an organic photovoltaic cell with a power conversion efficiency of 1.0%±0.1% under 1 sun AM1.5 illuminati...