RSC Applied Interfaces Blog

We are delighted to share a selection of “must read” articles published in RSC Applied Interfaces in the field of organic semiconductors. The articles explore the application of organic semiconductor materials in photovoltaics, transistors, neuromorphic computing, and sensing. 

Organic photovoltaics 

There are different strategies to improve organic photovoltaic performance through interface engineering. The papers below show how the charge-state formation at interfaces affect charge-transfer properties and ultimately device performance, as well as more sustainable processing methods. 

	Solution treatment controls charge-transfer states and energy-level alignment at hybrid CuSCN-organic interfaces  Yingying Li, Zhewei Chen, Wenjie Zhou, Qi Wang, Yuan Zhang, Tao Song, Baoquan Sun, Steffen Duhm
	All slot-die coated organic solar cells using an amine processed cathode interlayer based upon an amino acid functionalised perylene bisimide  Rebecca E. Ginesi, Muhammad R. Niazi, Gregory C. Welch, Emily R. Draper
	Dielectric-constant effects on the exciton dissociation and photovoltaic conversion efficiency of water-soluble green conducting polymers  Xin Wei, Daniel Williams, Giovanni Fanchini

Organic transistors for neuromorphic computing  

These studies explore organic transistor devices that reproduce aspects of neural and synaptic behaviour. They examine how operating voltage and material properties such as polymer molecular weight and film thickness affect the speed and dynamics of neuromorphic devices. 

	Voltage-dependent time constants for neuromorphic organic electrochemical transistor applications  Shunsuke Yamamoto, Nanako Kanazumi, Masaya Mitsuishi
	Exploring response time and synaptic plasticity in P3HT ion-gated transistors for neuromorphic computing: impact of P3HT molecular weight and film thickness  Ramin Karimi Azari, Zhaojing Gao, Alexandre Carrière, Clara Santato

Organic semiconductors as sensors 

These papers focus on functional sensing devices made using flexible or scalable electronic materials, highlighting practical device functionality and manufacturing scalability. 

	Flexible strain sensors based on silver nanowires and UV-curable acrylate elastomers for wrist movement monitoring  Shuhao Li, Wenjin Wu, Yu Chang, Weiquan Chen, Yijie Liu, Zifeng He, Yan Pu, Ivan S. Babichuk, Terry Tao Ye, Zhaoli Gao, Jian Yang
	Bias switchable narrowband/broadband NIR organic photodetector fabricated with a scalable technique  Lai-Hung Lai, Wei-Hsiang Lin, Chin-Chuan Hsieh, Maria Antonietta Loi

Thin film optimisation  

The articles below explore how important it is to optimise the molecule structure of organic semiconductor materials to enhance their performance. Molecular design, polymer structure and thin-film organisation all influence application-relevant properties like charge mobility. These studies highlight the need to balance electrical performance and other desirable properties like stretchability or stability. 

	Anisotropic charge transport study of highly oriented P4T2F-HD thin film fabricated at air–liquid interface through second harmonic generation (SHG) analysis  Radhe Shyam, Takaaki Manaka, Rajiv Prakash
	N-type semiconducting polymers with an improved isotropic mobility–stretchability stability by using structural isomers as conjugation break spacers  Ming-Han Chen, Yu-Chun Huang, Fu-En Szu, Jung-Yao Chen, Man-kit Leung, Yan-Cheng Lin
	Enhancing charge transport in isoindigo-based donor–acceptor copolymers by combining ionic doping with polar alkoxy side chains  Sheng Chuo, Yun-Ching Peng, Thanapon Puangniyom, Qun-Gao Chen, Chu-Chen Chueh,Wen-Ya Lee
	Polymerized ionic liquid dielectrics tune molecular orientation and operating voltage in silicon phthalocyanine OTFTs  Bahar Ronnasi, Nicolas Ledos, Benjamin King, Benoît H. Lessard

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Explore some of the exciting chemistry enabling the clean-energy transition through better hydrogen technologies, safer and more powerful batteries, and more sustainable recycling processes. 

Electrochemistry is playing a central role in solving some of the world’s biggest sustainability and technology challenges because it provides ways to convert, store, and recycle energy using green electricity sources rather than fossil-fuel-based processes. This makes it one of the key technologies for achieving net-zero emissions and a more sustainable energy future. 

To showcase some of the exciting research published in RSC Applied Interfaces in the field of sustainable electrochemistry, we have curated a small section of articles that highlight exciting new research in this area.  

Explore the collection below and discover how researchers are developing practical solutions to real-world challenges.  

Advances in Li-ion batteries 

This section explores advances in Li-ion battery technology. The articles report a mixture of experimental and computational studies that explore the introduction of safer solvents, Li diffusion at interfaces and surface functionalisation for improved performance. 

	Influence of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate flame retarding co-solvent on interfacial chemistry in carbonate ester lithium-ion battery electrolytes   M. B. Shemirani, F. Gebert and A. J. Naylor
	Ab initio study of lithium diffusion at a layered carbon/amorphous silicon interface   C. Kirsch and D. Sebastiani
	Functional separator with a nitrogen/oxygen-rich interlayer for enhancing performance of Li–S batteries   Y. Guo, J. Zhong, J. Liu and W.-H. Zhong

Green Hydrogen Production  

The articles below explore novel energy solutions through green hydrogen production, reporting advances in both the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.  

	Reaction-passivation-driven delamination of spent LiFePO4 cathodes and their upgrading to highly efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution   J. Yi, J. Hu, C. Gong, Q. Liu and W. Bi
	Hydrogen evolution reaction by Gd-doped transition metal dichalcogenide VSe2 nanoflowers    A. Parida, B. Dandasena and R. Naik
	Evaluating the electronic structure and stability of epitaxially grown Sr-doped LaFeO3 perovskite alkaline O2 evolution model electrocatalysts   C. Tian, C. Maheu, X. Huang, F. E. Oropeza, M. Major, J. Brötz, M. Einert, W. Donner, K. H. Zhang and J. P. Hoffmann

Electrochemical applications of graphene oxide materials  

The articles in this section explore the use of graphene oxide in sustainable electrochemical applications, including the oxygen evolution reaction, proton conductivity and Li-ion battery storage. 

	Cobalt–benzimidazole swapped metal–organic macrocycle with reduced graphene oxide as a hybrid electrocatalyst for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction   C. P. K. Prabhu, K. R. Naveen and J. Hur
	Enhanced proton conductivity from phytic acid-intercalated three-dimensional graphene oxide   S. Salehpour, L. I. Ardhayanti, Y. Hidaka, X. Liu, T. Tsugawa, K. Hatakeyama, M. S. Islam, Y. Sekine, S. Ida and S. Hayami
	Synthesis of a MOF-derived magnetite quantum dots on surface modulated reduced graphene oxide composite for high-rate lithium-ion storage   R. Jia, L. Yu, Z. Han, S. Liu, P. Shang, S. Deng, X. Liu and B. Xu

With an Impact Factor of 4.6 and time to first decision of 30.5 days, RSC Applied Interfaces is a dedicated, interdisciplinary reference journal for cutting-edge research on the applications of surfaces and interfaces. In addition to the applied focus, work considered for publication in RSC Applied Interfaces is expected to be highly original and of top quality. The journal seeks to report major scientific advances beyond the state of the art, at the cutting edge of this interdisciplinary field.  Find out more about the journal  Read our journal issues  Submit your manuscript today  Sign up for email alerts  Follow us on social media