TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: The processing step involves applying the solution on a surface. The processing step further involves drying the solution after the applying step to form the photoactive layer, and disposing the photoactive layer between first and second electrodes to form a photovoltaic cell. Preferred Composition: The composition (C1) and the solution comprises the compound (E1) (at least 1, preferably at most about 10) (vol.%). The composition (C1) further comprises an electron acceptor material and a solvent. The solution further comprises an electron donor material, an electron acceptor material and a solvent. Preferred Article: In the article (A1), the average grain size is at least 50 (preferably 100) nm, and the photoactive layer is formed by applying a solution comprising the compound (E1) onto the first or second electrode.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compound: The alkane (preferably 6-12C alkane, especially octane) is substituted by Cl, Br, I, CN, or COOCH3. The compound is 1,8-diiodooctane, 1,8-dibromooctane, 1,8-dicyanooctane, or 1,8-di(methoxycarbonyl)octane. The compound is of formula R1-(CH2)n-R2.n=1-20 (preferably 6-12, especially 8);andR1 and R2=halo, CN, or COOR'(preferably Cl, Br, I, CN, or COOCH3).Preferred Components: The solvent comprises chlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, toluene, mesitylene, ethylbenzene, isobutylbenzene, t-butylbenzene, alpha -methylnaphthalene, tetralin, N-methylpyrrolidone, methyl ethyl ketone, or acetone. The electron acceptor material comprises a material selected from fullerenes, inorganic nanoparticles, oxadiazoles, discotic liquid crystals, carbon nanorods, inorganic nanorods, polymers containing CN groups, and/or polymers containing CF3 groups (preferably substituted fullerene such as (6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester or (6,6)-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The polymer comprises an electron donor material, which is selected from polythiophenes, polyanilines, polycarbazoles, polyvinylcarbazoles, polyphenylenes, polyphenylvinylenes, polysilanes, polythienylenevinylenes, polyisothianaphthanenes, polycyclopentadithiophenes, polysilacyclopentadithiophenes, polycyclopentadithiazoles, polythiazolothiazoles, polythiazoles, polybenzothiadiazoles, poly(thiophene oxide)s, poly(cyclopentadithiophene oxide)s, polythiadiazoloquinoxaline, polybenzoisothiazole, polybenzothiazole, polythienothiophene, poly(thienothiophene oxide), polydithienothiophene, poly(dithienothiophene oxide)s, polyfluorenes, polytetrahydroisoindoles, and their copolymers (preferably poly(3-hexylthiophene) or poly(cyclopentadithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole)). EXAMPLE - Poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):poly(styrensulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was subsequently spin-cast on a indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate from an aqueous solution to form a PEDOT layer of thickness around 40 nm. The substrate thus formed was then dried for 10 minutes at 140 degrees C in air and transferred into a glove-box. A solution containing a mixture of poly(2,6-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta(2,1-b;3,4-b')-dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)) (PCPDTBT)/ (6,6)-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (C71-PCBM) (1:3.6) in chlorobenzene with (test) or without (control) a processing additive (1,8-octanedithiol) (2.5 vol.%) was then spin-cast on top of the PEDOT layer to form a photoactive layer. A PCPDTBT network film was prepared by rinsing the photoactive layer with 1,8-dithioloctane for 5 seconds to remove C71-PCBM. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens were prepared by detaching a photoactive layer from the substrate onto the surface of deionized water and picking it up with a copper grid. TEM images were obtained with a FEI T20 transmission electron microscope. The results showed that photoactive layers (test) exhibited larger scale phase-separation than photoactive layer (control).