Jürgen Parisi – författare

In this volume, concepts of nonlinear dynamics and self-organization are applied to topics in materials sciences with emphasis on semiconductors, soft matter, and biomaterials. The questions addressed include how to compare ordering phenomena under nonequilibrium situations, usually called self-organized structures, with those arising under situations close to equilibrium via selfassembly. Analogies are pointed out, differences are characterized, and efforts made to discover common features in the mechanistic description of those phenomena. Of major importance is the question of the role of spatial and temporal order, in particular, the application of concepts developed on macroscopic and microscopic scales to structure formation occurring on nanoscales, which occupies the focus of interest on the frontiers of science.

Achieving efficient solar energy conversion at both large scale and low cost is among the most important technological challenges for the near future. The present volume describes and explains the fundamentals of organic/plastic solar cells in a manner accessible to both researchers and students. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the operational principles underlying several types of solar cells that have absorber layers based on polymer materials and small molecules. It addresses competing approaches, such as polymer solar cells and dye-sensitized cells, while considering the thermodynamic principles within the context of these schemes. Organic Photovoltaics also analyzes in detail the charge-transfer processes in the bulk-heterojunction devices corresponding to the relevant mechanism of carrier generation. Emphasized throughout is the concept of interpenetrating polymer-fullerene networks, due to their high potential for improving power efficiency.