Rapid and Facile Formation of P3HT Organogels via Spin Coating: Tuning Functional Properties of Organic Electronic Thin Films

Lee, Cameron S.; Yin, Wen; Holt, Adam P.; Sangoro, Joshua; Sokolov, Alexei P.; Dadmun, Mark

doi:10.1002/adfm.201501707

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Over the relatively brief timescale of spin-coating, a polymer film is created through the quick removal of solvent via fluid motion and evaporation. 14 desired morphologies and architectures. 15,16,17 There exists a wide range of proposed pathways through which some of the more common conjugated polymers aggregate during the gelation process including percolation 18 and phase separation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illumination alters the structure of gels formed from the model optoelectronic material P3HT

Morgan

Dadmun

2017

Polymer

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Studying the gelation process of conjugated optoelectronic polymers has often been employed as a means of better understanding the final morphology and assembly in active layers of organic electronic devices due to the correlation between the experimentally observed sol-gel transition and many common solution based fabrication techniques. The nature of the percolated network structures formed through the molecular assembly that occurs during this gelation directly affects device performance in conjugated polymer based active layers. Thus, precise knowledge of the evolution of structures during gelation provides crucial information that is needed to rationally improve device performance by directing the assembly during processing. Additionally, observing the effects of environmental factors such as ambient light exposure upon the gelation process will direct efforts towards improving universally overlooked facets of the typical fabrication procedure. Thus, we have conducted a series of ultra small angle and small angle neutron scattering experiments to probe the temperature-driven gelation process of the conjugated photoactive polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) in both the presence and absence of white light. Analysis of the resultant scattering data shows that the gelation 2 process consists of the creation and steady growth of cylindrical aggregates formed by the agglomeration of free chain P3HT. Furthermore, clear differences in the gel structure and assembly between illuminated and non-illuminated gels are observed across multiple length scales, pointing towards an optically-induced variation in the gelation process. Our results indicate that simple white light exposure sharply retards the growth of conjugated polymer microstructures, which clearly suggests that ignoring illumination conditions throughout organic electronic fabrication processes risks producing inconsistent and non-reproducible active layer architectures and ultimately endangers dependable device performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illumination alters the structure of gels formed from the model optoelectronic material P3HT

Morgan

Dadmun

2017

Polymer

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“…Note that α-6T was reported as an excellent templating material for both ambipolar OFETs and light-emitting FETs [ 34 , 35 ]; P3HT always acted as a model conjugated polymer due to its high hole mobility, solution processibility, and potential to self-assemble during processing [ 36 ]. To further verify the abovementioned assumptions, the organic semiconductors of α-6T and P3HT were used as active layers to fabricate OFETs containing a PVA dielectric layer.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tailoring the Dielectric Layer Structure for Enhanced Performance of Organic Field-Effect Transistors: The Use of a Sandwiched Polar Dielectric Layer

et al. 2016

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To investigate the origins of hydroxyl groups in a polymeric dielectric and its applications in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), a polar polymer layer was inserted between two polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dielectric layers, and its effect on the performance as an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) was studied. The OFETs with a sandwiched dielectric layer of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) containing hydroxyl groups had shown enhanced characteristics compared to those with only PMMA layers. The field-effect mobility had been raised more than 10 times in n-type devices (three times in the p-type one), and the threshold voltage had been lowered almost eight times in p-type devices (two times in the n-type). The on-off ratio of two kinds of devices had been enhanced by almost two orders of magnitude. This was attributed to the orientation of hydroxyl groups from disordered to perpendicular to the substrate under gate-applied voltage bias, and additional charges would be induced by this polarization at the interface between the semiconductor and dielectrics, contributing to the accumulation of charge transfer.

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“…[166] Dadmun and co-workers reported a study on the effect of solvent and solution concentration on the formation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) organogels. [167] A minimal initial solution concentration and boiling point of the solvent were determined to be necessary for gelation to occur. They reported that with increasing boiling point of the solvent, larger organogel networks can be formed due to a longer formation time.…”

Section: Organogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Programmable Assembly of π‐Conjugated Polymers

Hicks

Obhi

et al. 2021

Advanced Materials

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resulting in device efficiencies exceeding 18%. [11] Applications for π-conjugated polymers requiring high conductivity are also being widely explored, most notably using highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in fields such as energy storage, tissue engineering, and textile-based electronics. [12][13][14][15][16] Applying π-conjugated polymers in electronics requires the complimentary development of favorable optoelectrical and mechanical properties. Molecular orbital alignments and polymer crystallization are of paramount importance. These interactions impact numerous properties, such as the polymer band energies, [17] charge-transfer processes, [18] redox potentials, [19] and photophysics. [20,21] Close chain-packing facilitates interpolymer charge transport, improving charge mobility in polymers as charges move by a hopping mechanism. [22] Additionally, the nanoscale morphology has a strong impact on the efficiency of photophysical processes, including exciton diffusion and dissociation, which are vital for OPVs and OPCs. [23] For wearable electronics flexibility and stretchability must also be considered. The brittle nature of crystalline materials produced from π-conjugated polymers is one of the major challenges that remains to be solved. The highly crystalline ordering caused by strong noncovalent interactions, chain interdigitation, or rigid polymer backbones leads to high tensile moduli and low stress loadings. [24] Many approaches have been explored to overcome this challenge including copolymerizing or blending conjugated polymers with elastomers and forming gels. [25][26][27][28][29] Programmed assembly (Figure 1) is an emerging bridge between our understanding of morphological ordering and functional materials. Programming order means to intentionally control ordering and morphology through inputs to achieve a desired functionality. It is a tool for rational material design, enabling structural complexity via a bottom-up approach to combine and enhance desirable material properties. This complexity results from orthogonal chemistries, which can be activated sequentially to build up structures in a stepwise manner. By this approach, each function would be met with its appropriate structure, as a morphology is selected to in order to achieve well-defined properties.Herein, we provide a review of innovative efforts being explored to program order in π-conjugated polymers from the π-Conjugated polymers have numerous applications due to their advantageous optoelectronic and mechanical properties. These properties depend intrinsically on polymer ordering, including crystallinity, orientation, morphology, domain size, and π-π interactions. Programming, or deliberately controlling the composition and ordering of π-conjugated polymers by well-defined inputs, is a key facet in the development of organic electronics. Here, π-conjugated programming is described at each stage of material development, stressing the links between each programming mode. Covalent programming is performed during p...

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Rapid and Facile Formation of P3HT Organogels via Spin Coating: Tuning Functional Properties of Organic Electronic Thin Films

Cited by 17 publications

References 50 publications

Illumination alters the structure of gels formed from the model optoelectronic material P3HT

Illumination alters the structure of gels formed from the model optoelectronic material P3HT

Tailoring the Dielectric Layer Structure for Enhanced Performance of Organic Field-Effect Transistors: The Use of a Sandwiched Polar Dielectric Layer

Programmable Assembly of π‐Conjugated Polymers

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