Advanced grazing-incidence techniques for modern soft-matter materials analysis

Hexemer, Alexander; Müller‐Buschbaum, Peter

doi:10.1107/s2052252514024178

Cited by 227 publications

(241 citation statements)

References 140 publications

(172 reference statements)

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“…From this, the form and structure factors of scattering domain sizes are extracted. [ 21 ] Figure 3 shows the form factors as well as the structure factors dependent on (fl uoro)surfactant content in the fi lm. In total, three form and corresponding structure factors are observed within the measured range.…”

Section: Inner Film Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Morphological Power of Soap: How Surfactants Lower the Sheet Resistance of PEDOT:PSS by Strong Impact on Inner Film Structure and Molecular Interface Orientation

Palumbiny

Schlipf

Hexemer

et al. 2016

Adv Elect Materials

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In the rapid development of organic electronics, there is a strong need for highly conductive and transparent electrode (TE) materials to act as charge transport layers. In this context, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is a highly promising candidate, because it can act directly as TE. This makes the use of brittle, rare, and expensive indium tin oxide electrodes dispensable. Modification of the inner film morphology, e.g., by solvent additives can dramatically reduce the sheet resistance of PEDOT:PSS. In this work, it is investigated how the (fluoro)surfactant Zonyl and the co‐solvent ethylene glycol influence the electrical and optical properties of the film, namely, the sheet resistance, the transmission, and the figure of merit for TEs. The electronic characteristics are then related to the morphological changes investigated with grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) and polarized resonant soft X‐ray scattering (P‐SoXS). Using GISAXS, structure evolutions are related to sheet resistances and device characteristics in organic solar cells. Further, the influence of (fluoro)surfactant on the phase separation and relative molecular orientation at polymer interfaces is investigated utilizing P‐SoXS. Transparent PEDOT:PSS films with low sheet resistance are essential for market introduction and mark the next milestone for the success of future organic electronic materials.

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Section: Inner Film Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Morphological Power of Soap: How Surfactants Lower the Sheet Resistance of PEDOT:PSS by Strong Impact on Inner Film Structure and Molecular Interface Orientation

Palumbiny

Schlipf

Hexemer

et al. 2016

Adv Elect Materials

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“…The interaction of X-rays with scattering domains inside the film is simulated by form and structure factors that translate to domain shapes and their distances in real space. [17][18][19][20] Grazing-incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) probes length scales down to the atomic range and thus yields crystallographic information about the crystalline part of the sample. Reflexes in the scattering pattern stem from crystal planes denoted in the reciprocal lattice by Miller indices (hkl) and give information about crystal phase and orientation with respect to the substrate surface normal.…”

Section: Research Newsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure of Organometal Halide Perovskite Films as Determined with Grazing‐Incidence X‐Ray Scattering Methods

Schlipf

Müller‐Buschbaum

2017

Advanced Energy Materials

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129

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Grazing‐incidence X‐ray scattering (GIXS) methods have proven to be a valuable asset for investigating the morphology of thin films at different length scales. Consequently, GIXS has been applied to the fast‐progressing field of organometal halide perovskites. This exciting class of materials has propelled research in the areas of cheap and sustainable photovoltaics, light emitting devices, and optoelectronics in general. Especially, perovskite solar cells (PSC) have seen a remarkable rise in power conversion efficiencies, crossing the 20% mark after only five years of research. This research news outlines GIXS studies focusing on the most challenging research topics in the perovskite field today: Current–voltage hysteresis, device reproducibility, and long‐term stability of PSC are inherently linked to perovskite film morphology. On the other hand, film formation depends on the choice of precursors and processing parameters; understanding their interdependence opens possibilities to tailor film morphologies. Owing to their tunability and moisture resistance, 2D perovskites have recently attracted attention. Examples of GIXS studies with different measurement and data analysis techniques are presented, highlighting especially in‐situ investigations on the many kinetic processes involved. Thus, an overview on the toolbox of GIXS techniques is linked to the specific needs of research into organometal halide perovskite optoelectronics.

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“…In this respect, advanced X-ray and neutron scattering techniques were proven to be of particular value, since they allow for a non-destructive nanostructure determination without any need for special sample preparation. [74][75][76] …”

Section: Wwwadvancedsciencenewscommentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybrid Photovoltaics – from Fundamentals towards Application

Müller‐Buschbaum

Thelakkat

Fässler

et al. 2017

Advanced Energy Materials

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In hybrid photovoltaics, an organic and an inorganic semiconductor are combined in the active layer, with the advantages of both material classes in a single device. The organic component contributes towards the possibility for wet chemical device preparation with potentially low costs in combination with achieving flexible devices. From the inorganic component an increase in stability, as well as superior opto‐electronic properties, is added. Given the large diversity of organic and inorganic semiconductors, a large number of possible realizations of hybrid solar cells emerge. In the present review, we limit to hybrid solar cells which combine conjugated polymers with inorganic materials such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, silicon, germanium and quantum dots to keep focused. Particular emphasis is put on different routes to tailor nanostructures, such as the use of semiconductor block copolymers. The inorganic component is either synthesized directly in one of the blocks or added as a pre‐synthesized nanomaterial to form the hybrid material. Alternatively, the block copolymer is used as a structure‐directing template in a sol–gel synthesis approach to have tailored inorganic nanostructures, which are back‐filled with the organic component to fabricate the hybrid material. Hybrid solar cells based on crystalline Si are discussed for comparison.

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Advanced grazing-incidence techniques for modern soft-matter materials analysis

Cited by 227 publications

References 140 publications

The Morphological Power of Soap: How Surfactants Lower the Sheet Resistance of PEDOT:PSS by Strong Impact on Inner Film Structure and Molecular Interface Orientation

The Morphological Power of Soap: How Surfactants Lower the Sheet Resistance of PEDOT:PSS by Strong Impact on Inner Film Structure and Molecular Interface Orientation

Structure of Organometal Halide Perovskite Films as Determined with Grazing‐Incidence X‐Ray Scattering Methods

Hybrid Photovoltaics – from Fundamentals towards Application

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