Dag W. Breiby

Semi-metallic polymers

Polymers are lightweight, flexible, solution-processable materials that are promising for low-cost printed electronics as well as for mass-produced and large-area applications. Previous studies demonstrated that they can possess insulating, semiconducting or metallic properties; here we report that polymers can also be semi-metallic. Semi-metals, exemplified by bismuth, graphite and telluride alloys, have no energy bandgap and a very low density of states at the Fermi level. Furthermore, they typically have a higher Seebeck coefficient and lower thermal conductivities compared with metals, thus being suitable for thermoelectric applications. We measure the thermoelectric properties of various poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) samples, and observe a marked increase in the Seebeck coefficient when the electrical conductivity is enhanced through molecular organization. This initiates the transition from a Fermi glass to a semi-metal. The high Seebeck value, the metallic conductivity at room temperature and the absence of unpaired electron spins makes polymer semi-metals attractive for thermoelectrics and spintronics.

Three-Dimensional Packing Structure and Electronic Properties of Biaxially Oriented Poly(2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophene-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) Films

We use a systematic approach that combines experimental X-ray diffraction (XRD) and computational modeling based on molecular mechanics and two-dimensional XRD simulations to develop a detailed model of the molecular-scale packing structure of poly(2,5-bis (3-tetradecylthiophene-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (PBTTT-C(14)) films. Both uniaxially and biaxially aligned films are used in this comparison and lead to an improved understanding of the molecular-scale orientation and crystal structure. We then examine how individual polymer components (i.e., conjugated backbone and alkyl side chains) contribute to the complete diffraction pattern, and how modest changes to a particular component orientation (e.g., backbone or side-chain tilt) influence the diffraction pattern. The effects on the polymer crystal structure of varying the alkyl side-chain length from C(12) to C(14) and C(16) are also studied. The accurate determination of the three-dimensional polymer structure allows us to examine the PBTTT electronic band structure and intermolecular electronic couplings (transfer integrals) as a function of alkyl side-chain length. This combination of theoretical and experimental techniques proves to be an important tool to help establish the relationship between the structural and electronic properties of polymer thin films.

Understanding Structure-Mobility Relations for Perylene Tetracarboxydiimide Derivatives

Discotic mesophases are known for their ability to self-assemble into columnar structures and can serve as semiconducting molecular wires. Charge carrier mobility along these wires strongly depends on molecular packing, which is controlled by intermolecular interactions. By combining wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments with molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidate packing motifs of a perylene tetracarboxdiimide derivative, a task which is hard to achieve by using a single experimental or theoretical technique. We then relate the charge mobility to the molecular arrangement, both by pulse-radiolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity experiments and simulations based on the non-adiabatic Marcus charge transfer theory. Our results indicate that the helical molecular arrangement with the 45 degrees twist angle between the neighboring molecules favors hole transport in a compound normally considered as an n-type semiconductor. Statistical analysis shows that the transport is strongly suppressed by structural defects. By linking molecular packing and mobility, we eventually provide a pathway to the rational design of perylenediimide derivatives with high charge mobilities.

A polymer brush organic interlayer improves the overlying pentacene nanostructure and organic field-effect transistor performance

We investigated the crystalline nanostructures and film morphologies of pentacene films deposited onto a polymer brush organic interlayer in high performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Polymer brushes were grafted onto the oxide substrates by spin-coating and thermal annealing. Pentacene FETs fabricated on top of the polymer brushes showed excellent device performance, with a field-effect mobility of 0.82 cm2 V−1s−1 and an on/off current ratio of 107. These properties were superior to those of devices using typical surface modification techniques, such as octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS) and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). The improvements in OFET performance appeared to be due to the pentacene layers crystalline nanostructure and grain interconnectivity, which formed during the submonolayer stage of film growth. This stage of growth is strongly correlated with the surface energy, morphology, and viscoelastic properties of the resulting gate dielectrics. The inclusion of a polymer brush dielectric surface modification is a significant step toward optimizing the nanostructures of organic semiconductors, which are directly linked to device performance enhancement, by engineering the interfaces in OFETs.

Coexistence of helical morphologies in columnar stacks of star-shaped discotic hydrazones.

Discotic hydrazone molecules are of particular interest as they form discotic phases where the discs are rigidified by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Here, we investigate the thermotropic behavior and solid-state organizations of three discotic hydrazone derivatives with dendritic groups attached to their outer peripheries, containing six, eight, and ten carbons of linear alkoxy chains. On the basis of two-dimensional wide angle X-ray scattering (2DWAXS), the elevated temperature liquid crystalline (LC) phases were assigned to a hexagonal columnar (Colh) organization with nontilted hydrazone discs for all three compounds. With WAXS, advanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) techniques, and ab initio computations, the compounds with six and ten carbons of achiral alkoxy side chains were further subjected to studies at 25 °C, revealing complex crystalline phases with rigid columns and flexible side chains. This combined approach led to models of coexisting helical columnar stacking morphologies for both systems with two different tilt/pitch angles between successive hydrazone molecules. The differences in tilt/pitch angles between the two compounds illustrate that the columns with short alkoxy chains (six carbons) are more influenced by the presence of other stacks in their vicinity, while those with long side chains are less tilted due to a larger alkoxy (ten carbons) buffer zone. The formation of different packing morphologies in the crystalline phase of a columnar LC has rarely been reported so far, which suggests the possibility of complex stacking structures of similar organic LC systems, utilizing small molecules as potential materials for applications in organic electronics.

Columnar Self-Assembly and Alignment of Planar Carbenium Ions in Langmuir-Blodgett Films

Structural and optical properties of multilayer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of two amphiphilic carbenium salts 2-didecylamino-6,10-bis(dimethylamino)-4,8,12-trioxatriangulenium hexafluorophosphate (ATOTA-1) and 2,6-bis(decylmethylamino)-10-dimethylamino-4,8,12-trioxatriangulenium hexafluorophosphate (ATOTA-2) are described. The LB films were prepared on lipophilic glass by standard vertical dipping. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) measurements show that the planar organic cores, in spite of their positive charge, form closely packed columns with a repeating distance of ∼3.45 Å. Specular X-ray reflectivity (SXR) reveals the LB multilayers to consist of Y-type bilayers with thickness 31 Å for ATOTA-1 and 41 Å for ATOTA-2. This significant difference is ascribed to the different packing motifs of the alkyl chains in the two LB films. GIXD and polarized UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy show that the columnar aggregates in the LB films are oriented along the dipping direction. This alignment is attributed to shear effects during LB transfer. The main absorption band of the LB films is blue-shifted compared to that in solution, while the fluorescence is red-shifted by more than 100 nm. These findings suggest the presence of H-aggregates in agreement with the cofacial packing derived from the X-ray measurements. Polarized absorption spectroscopy with variable angle of incidence was used to resolve two perpendicular optical transitions in the visible range, one at 460 nm polarized perpendicular to the columnar direction, in the plane of the film, and one at 420 nm polarized along the film normal.

Substrate-induced variations of molecular packing, dynamics, and intermolecular electronic couplings in pentacene monolayers on the amorphous silica dielectric.

Charge-carrier transport in thin-film organic field-effect transistors takes place within the first (few) molecular layer(s) of the active organic material in contact with the gate dielectric. Here, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate how interactions with bare amorphous silica surfaces that vary in terms of surface potential influence the molecular packing and dynamics of a monolayer pentacene film. The results indicate that the long axis of the pentacene molecules has a non-negligible tilt angle away from the surface normal. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction patterns for these models are calculated, and we discuss notable differences in the shapes of the Bragg rods as a function of the molecular packing, also in relation to previously published experimental reports. Intermolecular electronic couplings (transfer integrals) evaluated for the monolayers show marked differences compared to bulk crystal calculations, a result that points to the importance of fully considering the molecular packing environment in charge-carrier mobility models for organic electronic materials.

Laser recrystallization and inscription of compositional microstructures in crystalline SiGe-core fibres

Glass fibres with silicon cores have emerged as a versatile platform for all-optical processing, sensing and microscale optoelectronic devices. Using SiGe in the core extends the accessible wavelength range and potential optical functionality because the bandgap and optical properties can be tuned by changing the composition. However, silicon and germanium segregate unevenly during non-equilibrium solidification, presenting new fabrication challenges, and requiring detailed studies of the alloy crystallization dynamics in the fibre geometry. We report the fabrication of SiGe-core optical fibres, and the use of CO2 laser irradiation to heat the glass cladding and recrystallize the core, improving optical transmission. We observe the ramifications of the classic models of solidification at the microscale, and demonstrate suppression of constitutional undercooling at high solidification velocities. Tailoring the recrystallization conditions allows formation of long single crystals with uniform composition, as well as fabrication of compositional microstructures, such as gratings, within the fibre core.

Biaxially oriented CdSe nanorods

The shape, structure, and orientation of rubbing-aligned cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanorods on polymer coated glass substrates have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and grazing incidence X-ray scattering combined with computer simulations. The nanorods are found to be of wurtzite structure and highly monodisperse, and have an essentially ellipsoidal shape with short axes of approximately 8 nm and long axis of approximately 22 nm. The nanorods exhibit preferred biaxial orientation with the hexagonal a-c-plane parallel to the sample surface and the c-axis oriented along the rubbing direction of the sample. Some tendency of smectic-A ordering is observed. A quantitative model incorporating atomic structure, rod shape, and preferred orientation was developed for numerically simulating the diffraction peak positions, widths, and intensities, giving good correlation with the experimental observations.

In situ X-ray ptychography imaging of high-temperature CO2 acceptor particle agglomerates

Imaging nanoparticles under relevant reaction conditions of high temperature and gas pressure is difficult because conventional imaging techniques, like transmission electron microscopy, cannot be used. Here we demonstrate that the coherent diffractive imaging technique of X-ray ptychography can be used for in situ phase contrast imaging in structure studies at atmospheric pressure and elevated temperatures. Lithium zirconate, a candidate CO2 capture material, was studied at a pressure of one atmosphere in air and in CO2, at temperatures exceeding 600 °C. Images with a spatial resolution better than 200 nm were retrieved, and possibilities for improving the experiment are described.