Wenlin Zhang

Research description

Morphologies of the active layers of organic photovoltaics (OPV) on different length scales significantly a↵ect the performance of OPV solar cells.Highly ordered microstructures with large interfacial areas between different domains are expected. As a consequence, our interest in conjugated block copolymers comes from the self-assembly of these materials. These block copolymers can self-assemble into highly ordered microstructures, such as lamellae, with controllable interfacial properties. To understand the selfassembly of conjugated block copolymer systems, we use molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and theoretical models. These approaches will help us elucidate the properties of block copolymers, which cannot be easily investigated via experiments, such as chain dimensions and orientational couplings of molten polymers. Finally, these properties will allow us to predict the self-assembling behaviors of these materials and to design better OPV solar cells.