Stearic acid mediated growth of edge-on oriented bilayer poly(3-hexylthiophene) Langmuir films

Roy, Saugata; Saifuddin,; Mandal, Subhankar; Hazra, S.

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2021.08.071

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Optical (UV−vis) absorption spectra of the P3AT/QG thin films (before and after TA at different temperatures) were collected using a UV−vis spectrophotometer (JASCO, V-630). 24 The XR measurements of the P3AT/Si thin films, in a wide dynamical range (∼8 orders of magnitude), before and after TA at different temperatures, were performed using an X-ray diffractometer (Smartlab, Rigaku) 41,42 equipped with a copper source (sealed tube) followed by a Johansson Ge crystal and a parabolic multilayer mirror to obtain an intense parallel beam of Cu Kα1 radiation (of wavelength 1.54 Å). The scattered beam was detected using a point (NaI scintillation) detector.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vibronic States and Edge-On Oriented π-Stacking in Poly(3-alkylthiophene) Thin Films

Saifuddin

Roy

Mandal

et al. 2022

ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.

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The influence of alkyl side-chain length [C n H2n+1 (A), where n = 6 (hexyl), 8 (octyl), 12 (dodecyl)] and thermal annealing (TA) and the definite roles of these in the quantity and quality of π-stacked crystallinity and edge-on orientated (EO) ordering of spin-coated poly(3-alkylthiophene) [P3AT] thin films, which are of massive significance in their optoelectronic properties, were investigated using complementary optical absorption spectroscopy and X-ray reflectivity (XR) techniques. The energy-band diagram, corresponding to the vibronic levels, obtained from the optical absorption spectrum provides information about the percentage, planarity, local order, and average conjugation length of the crystalline aggregates, while the electron density profile obtained from the XR provides unique information about the EO ordering and its variation along the depth. A prominent EO ordering near the substrate with a gradually decreased ordering toward the top surface is observed in each film. An as-cast P3HT film of shorter side-chain (having a natural nucleation tendency and rigidity) shows a slightly higher crystallinity and weaker excitonic coupling, while as-cast P3DDT film (having longer side-chain flexibility) shows a slightly better EO ordering. After the TA, the planarity of the unfolded backbone improves in each film; however, the effect is maximum in the P3DDT film. The EO ordering also improves throughout the film (by a thermal energy-induced reorientation of crystallites) but more toward the top surface (by increasing the decay length), preserving the exponential decay nature. The P3HT film (with the better initial crystallinity and planarity) shows an appreciable improvement, while the P3DDT film (where the crystallinity increases and crystallites have a better reorientational ability) shows the maximum improvement in the EO ordering. The improvement of the crystallinity (in quantity and quality) and the EO ordering of P3AT in thin films (as active layers), especially near the film–substrate interfaces, are of immense importance for their better in-plane charge carrier mobility in a thin-film transistor.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vibronic States and Edge-On Oriented π-Stacking in Poly(3-alkylthiophene) Thin Films

Saifuddin

Roy

Mandal

et al. 2022

ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.

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“…However, P3HT is a non-amphiphilic substance, making it incompatible with standard LB deposition. When spread on the water surface, P3HT aggregates into three-dimensional structures to decrease polymer-water contact or interaction [6].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to their wide range of possible applications in modified electrodes [3], batteries [4], and solar devices [5], extremely thin and highly structured organicinorganic films built on solid substrates have garnered considerable attention in recent decades. Layer-bylayer structural ordering is beneficial for enhancing charge carrier mobility [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Morphology Investigation during In-situ CdS Nanoparticles Growth in Hybrid P3HT:SA Films via Gas Exposure Technique

Malik¹,

Naning²

2022

J. Nano- Electron. Phys.

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The unique physical features of group II-VI inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles, including their high surface area and nanoscale size, have attracted significant study interest. When these nanoparticles are integrated with organic semiconductor materials, they form multifunctional materials with advantageous features for usage in electronic devices. This study prepared organic/inorganic thin films by depositing P3HT, stearic acid (SA), and Cd 2+ ions onto silicon substrates by a novel Angle Lifting Deposition (ALD) technique. The films were then exposed to H2S gas for 2, 4, 6, and 15 h to nucleate CdS nanoparticles within the P3HT:SA matrices. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to characterize the hybrid organic/inorganic thin films. Both morphological and elemental studies demonstrated the existence of CdS nanoparticles. The optimized gas exposure time for hybrid polymer P3HT:SA:CdS was 6 h. This study implies that ALD and gas exposure techniques are practical for fabricating hybrid organic/inorganic nanocomposite thin films at room temperature.

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“…The locations of the dispersed conducting NMs in the PNC film are of prime importance in deciding its device performances. For example, the locations of the NMs in the amorphous polymer regions can establish better contacts between crystallites and also can improve the overall crystallinity (in terms of quantity and quality) of the polymer matrix, both of which in turn can enhance the charge carrier mobility of the system. , Such information, which are of utmost importance, can be extracted using complementary X-ray reflectivity (XR) and optical absorption techniques. , XR is capable of providing electron density profile (EDP), i.e., in-plane ( x – y ) average electron density as a function of depth ( z ), − from which information about the aggregation and/or distribution of NMs along depth ,, and the layering due to ordering of polymer can be obtained, − while the optical absorption is capable of providing information about the intra- and interchain ordering, the conjugation length, and the percentage of crystalline polymer aggregates in the system. ,, However, such characterization of PNC thin films containing semiconducting polymers using complementary techniques, in general and XR technique, in particular, through nondestructive ways, are very rare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoparticle Mediated Improved Crystallinity and Connectivity of Semiconducting Polymer Thin Films

Saifuddin

Biswas

Roy

et al. 2023

ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.

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Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), i.e., nanoparticle (NP) incorporated semiconducting polymers (SPs), constitute a class of active materials where the dispersion and locations of the NPs and the crystallinity of the SPs play important roles in deciding their device performances. Herein Au nanoparticle (AuNP) mixed poly(3-hexylthiophene) [P3HT] was taken as a model PNC system, and a unique combination of complementary techniques was utilized to address these dispersion-related structural issues, viz the organization and/or dispersion of AuNPs, its evolution with thermal annealing (TA), and their effects on the ordering or crystallization of the P3HT matrix. The layering of AuNPs near the interfaces, namely confined or near monolayer thick layer at the film−substrate interface and fluctuated or near bilayer thick layer at the film−air interface, are evident in the as-cast PNC thin films, indicating self-organization and phase separation tendencies of the similar and dissimilar materials (i.e., dominant decrease of enthalpic energy over entropy) and different (hard and soft) boundary conditions of the interfaces. On the other hand, appreciable dispersion of AuNPs inside P3HT matrix is evident after TA, suggesting thermal energy induced diffusion of AuNPs through amorphous P3HT regions, overcoming the selforganization and phase separation (i.e., dominant increase of entropic energy over enthalpy). Such dispersion enhances the quantity (fraction or amount) and quality (planarity or conjugation length) of P3HT crystallites (and thus validates the dispersion of AuNPs in the amorphous P3HT regions) and their edge-on orientation and connectivity. This information or understanding is very useful for optimizing the structures of the PNC-based active layers for their better charge carrier mobility and device performances.

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Stearic acid mediated growth of edge-on oriented bilayer poly(3-hexylthiophene) Langmuir films

Cited by 13 publications

References 56 publications

Vibronic States and Edge-On Oriented π-Stacking in Poly(3-alkylthiophene) Thin Films

Vibronic States and Edge-On Oriented π-Stacking in Poly(3-alkylthiophene) Thin Films

Surface Morphology Investigation during In-situ CdS Nanoparticles Growth in Hybrid P3HT:SA Films via Gas Exposure Technique

Nanoparticle Mediated Improved Crystallinity and Connectivity of Semiconducting Polymer Thin Films

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