Commonly used density functionals including an optimally tuned OT-ωB97X functional are benchmarked on oligomer and periodic models of donor–acceptor copolymers.

A p-type dye-sensitized solar cell, where the dye injects a hole into the semiconductor, could be combined with a typical Grätzel cell to create an efficient tandem device. However, the current p-type devices suffer from low efficiency. Here, geometries and electronic structures of four perylenemonoimide-based dyes (1–4) both as free and adsorbed on the NiO(100) semiconductor surface have been investigated to gain a better understanding of the p-type devices. In particular, the electronic transitions relevant to charge transfer between the dye and the surface have been identified. Excitations have been evaluated using the time-dependent DFT calculations, and the roles of frontier orbitals and band edges in transitions have been assessed. The adsorbed dyes can adopt either upright or slightly tilted geometries depending on the structure of the anchoring group and the binding mode of the dye. The adsorption slightly lowers the NiO band gap, from 4.06 eV to 3.90–3.96 eV, depending on the surface–adsorbate system and the band gaps of the dye molecules by 0.1–0.2 eV. Additionally, the adsorption mode of dye 1 moves the LUMO+1 level down by 0.5 eV. The effective mass of charge carrier holes is significantly smaller at the NiO surface than in the bulk indicating the importance of surface conductivity. We also found that the potential drop, i.e. the driving force for charge transfer from NiO to the dye molecule, depends on the adsorption mode of 1.

Electronic coupling between adjacent molecules is one of the key parameters determining the charge transfer (CT) rates in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs). We calculate theoretically electronic couplings for exciton dissociation (ED) and charge recombination (CR) processes at local poly(thiophene-co-quinoxaline) (TQ)–PC₇₁BM interfaces. We use eigenstate-based coupling schemes, i.e. the generalized Mulliken–Hush (GMH) and fragment charge difference (FCD) schemes, including 2 to multiple (3–11) states. Moreover, we study the effects of functionals, excited state methods, basis sets, surrounding media, and relative placements of TQ and PC₇₁BM on the coupling values. Generally, both schemes provide consistent couplings with the global hybrid functionals, which yield more charge-localized diabatic states and constant coupling values regardless of the number of states, and so the 2-state schemes may be sufficient. The (non-tuned and optimally tuned) long-range corrected (LRC) functionals result in more notable mixing of the local components with the CT states. Employing multiple states reduces the mixing and thus improves the LRC results, although the method still affects the GMH CR couplings. As the FCD scheme is less sensitive, we recommend combining it with the multi-state treatment for polymer–fullerene systems when using the LRC functionals. Finally, we employ the 11-state FCD couplings to calculate the ED and CR rates, which are consistent with the experimental rates of the polymer–fullerene systems. Our results provide more insight into choosing a suitable eigenstate-based coupling scheme for predicting the electronic couplings and CT rates in photoactive systems.

Understanding the degradation of a composite material is crucial for tailoring its properties based on the foreseen application. In this study, poly-L,DL-lactide 70/30 (PLA70) was compounded with silicate or phosphate bioactive glass (Si-BaG and P-BaG, respectively). The composite processing was carried out without excessive thermal degradation of the polymer and resulted in porous composites with lower mechanical properties than PLA70. The loss in mechanical properties was associated with glass content rather than the glass composition. The degradation of the composites was studied for 40 weeks in Tris buffer solution Adding Si-BaG to PLA70 accelerated the polymer degradation in vitro more than adding P-BaG, despite the higher reactivity of the P-BaG. All the composites exhibited a decrease in mechanical properties and increased hydrophilicity during hydrolysis compared to the PLA70. Both glasses dissolved through the polymer matrix with a linear, predictable release rate of ions. Most of the P-BaG had dissolved before 20 weeks in vitro, while there was still Si-BaG left after 40 weeks. This study introduces new polymer/bioactive glass composites with tailorable mechanical properties and ion release for bone regeneration and fixation applications.