Macroscopic Domains within an Oriented TQ1 Film Visualized Using 2D Polarization Imaging

Summary, in English

Large-area self-assembly of functional conjugated polymers holds a great potential for practical applications of organic electronic devices. We obtained well-aligned films of poly[2,3-bis(3-octyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-5,8-diyl-alt-thiophene-2,5-diyl] (TQ1) using the floating film transfer method. Thereby, a droplet of the TQ1 solution was injected on top of the surface of an immiscible liquid substrate, at the meniscus formed at the edge of a Petri dish, from where the polymer solution and the film spread in one direction. Characterization of the TQ1 film using the recently developed two-dimensional polarization imaging (2D POLIM) revealed large, millimeter-sized domains of oriented polymer chains. The irregular shape of the contact line at the droplet source induced the appearance of disordered stripes perpendicular to the spreading direction. A correlation of polarization parameters measured using 2D POLIM revealed the microstructure of such stripes, providing valuable information for further improvement and possible upscaling of this promising method.

• Author: Daniela Täuber; Wanzhu Cai; Olle Inganäs; Ivan G. Scheblykin
• Department/s: Chemical Physics; NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
• Publishing year: 2017-01-31
• Language: English
• Pages: 32-40
• Publication/Series: ACS Omega
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6b00264
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: The American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Topic: Physical Chemistry (including Surface- and Colloid Chemistry); Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2470-1343