Inorganic Polymer Micropillar‐Based Solution Shearing of Large‐Area Organic Semiconductor Thin Films with Pillar‐Size‐Dependent Crystal Size

Abstract

It is demonstrated that the crystal size of small-molecule organic semiconductors can be controlled during solution shearing by tuning the shape and dimensions of the micropillars on the blade. Increasing the size and spacing of the rectangular pillars increases the crystal size, resulting in higher thin-film mobility. This phenomenon is attributed as the microstructure changing the degree and density of the meniscus line curvature, thereby controlling the nucleation process. The use of allylhybridpolycarbosilane (AHPCS), an inorganic polymer, is also demonstrated as the microstructured blade for solution shearing, which has high resistance to organic solvents, can easily be microstructured via molding, and is flexible and durable. Finally, it is shown that solution shearing can be performed on a curved surface using a curved blade. These demonstrations bring solution shearing closer to industrial applications and expand its applicability to various printed flexible electronics.

Alignment and Photopolymerization of Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene Derivatives Carrying Diacetylenic Side Chains for Charge-Transporting Application

“…The oriented P3HT, directionally solidified from an appropriate solvent, exhibited over 10 times higher mobility measured along the P3HT fibers compared to that measured perpendicularly as a result of transport barrier reductions . Techniques involving external forces, such as solution shearing, , dip coating, , bar coating, , slot-die coating, zone casting, as well as Chinese brush coating, have been applied to induce molecular orientation/alignment to construct charge-transporting channels. Nevertheless, how to fabricate the flexible and long polymer chains into a uniformly aligned charge-transporting channel with less barriers and defects is still a challenge.…”

Computational Method‐Based Optimization of Carbon Nanotube Thin‐Film Immunosensor for Rapid Detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 Virus

“…In this work, we have utilized solution shearing to regulate the thin‐film properties of CNTs (a commonly utilized nanomaterial for biosensing), [ 15 ] which potentially enables mass manufacturing of the POC biosensor at a low cost ( Figure 1 ). [ 16 ] In solution shearing, solution with uniformly dispersed CNTs forms a meniscus between a heated substrate and a coating blade. [ 17 ] As the blade moves, continuous deposition of CNTs occurs near the edge of the meniscus (owing to the accelerated solvent evaporation), [ 18 ] forming a thin film.…”

Large-area synthesis of nanoscopic catalyst-decorated conductive MOF film using microfluidic-based solution shearing

“…Furthermore, contrary to other MOF thin-film growth techniques 14 , 22 , MiCS can generate MOF thin film over a large area in a scalable and high-throughput (5 mm/s) manner, rendering it a feasible technique for large-scale manufacturing. Solution shearing is a technique analogous to blade coating, where a fixed amount of solution is sandwiched between a moving blade and a heated substrate 28 – 30 . A meniscus (curved air–liquid interface) naturally forms between the blade and the substrate, and as the meniscus moves along with the moving blade, a thin film is deposited across the substrate as solution-to-solid transition occurs near the edge of the meniscus 28 .…”