Highly Anisotropic P3HT Film Fabricated via Epitaxy on an Oriented Polyethylene Film and Solvent Vapor Treatment

Effects of network junctions and defects on the crystallization of model poly(ethylene glycol) networks

Polymer crystallization drastically changes the physical properties of polymeric materials. However, the crystallization in polymer networks has been little explored. This study investigated the crystallization behavior of a series of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) networks consisting of well-defined branched precursors. The PEG networks were prepared by drying gels synthesized at various conditions. The PEG networks showed slower crystallization with lower final crystallinity than uncrosslinked PEGs with amine end groups. Surprisingly, the effect of network formation was not as significant as that of the relatively bulky end-groups introduced in the uncrosslinked polymer. The molecular weight of the precursor PEG, or equivalently the chain length between neighboring junctions, was the primary parameter that affected the crystallization of the PEG networks. Shorter network chains led to lower crystallization rates and final crystallinity. This effect became less significant as the network chain length increased. On the other hand, the spatial and topological defects formed in the gel synthesis process did not affect the crystallization in the polymer networks at all. The crystallization in the polymer networks seems insensitive to these mesoscopic defects and can be solely controlled by the chain length between junctions.

Modulating the Chiroptical Response of Chiral Polymers with Extended Conjugation within the Structural Building Blocks

Advancing the emerging area of chiral photonics requires modeling-guided concepts of chiral material design to enhance optical activity and associated optical rotatory dispersion. Herein, we introduce conformational engineering achieved by tuning polymer backbone conjugation through introduction of thiophene structural units in a chiral fluorene polymer backbone. Our theoretical calculations reveal a relationship between the structural conformation and the resultant rotational strength. We further synthesize a series of chiral fluorene-based polymers copolymerized with thiophene whose optical chirality trend is in qualitative agreement with predictions of our quantum chemical calculations. Varying the number of thiophene units in the monomer building block allows us to modulate the rotational strength by tuning the intrafibril helicity of single-stranded polymer chains, whereby the monomer conjugation is retained throughout the whole length of the polymer backbone. Our design concept delineates an underexamined approach: the concept of tuning backbone conjugation and helicity within the main chain to enhance the optical activity of chiral polymer systems.

A facile approach for tuning optical and surface properties of novel biobased Alginate/POTE handleable films via solvent vapor exposure

Novel biobased films consisting of alginate blends with poly (octanoic acid 2-thiophen-3-yl-ethyl ester) (POTE), a conducting polymer, were prepared by solution casting, and their optical, morphological, thermal, and surface properties were studied. Using UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of tetrahydrofuran solvent vapors on the optical properties and surface morphology of biobased films with different POTE contents were studied. Results indicate that morphological rearrangements of POTE take place during the process of solvent exposure. Specifically, the solvent vapor induced the formation of POTE small crystalline domains, which allows envisioning the potential of tuning UV-visible absorbance and wettability behavior of biobased films. Finally, theoretical electronic calculations (specifically frontier molecular orbitals analysis) provided consistent evidence on POTE's preferential orientation and selectivity toward the THF-vapor medium.

Real-Time Detection of Glyphosate by a Water-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistor with a Microfluidic Chamber

This paper reports the development of a real-time monitoring system utilizing the combination of a water-gated organic field-effect transistor (WG-OFET) and a microfluidic chamber for the detection of the herbicide glyphosate (GlyP). For the realization of the real-time sensing with the WG-OFET, the surface of a polymer semiconductor was utilized as a sensing unit. The aqueous solution including the target analyte, which is employed as a gate dielectric of the WG-OFET, flows into a designed microfluidic chamber on the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. As the sensing mechanism, the WG-OFET-based sensor utilizes the competitive complexation among carboxylate-functionalized polythiophene, a copper(II) (Cu²⁺) ion, and GlyP. The reversible accumulation and desorption of the positively charged Cu²⁺ ion on the semiconductor surface induced a change in the electrical double-layer capacitance (EDLC). The optimization of the microfluidic chamber enables a uniform water flow and contributes to real-time quantitative sensing of GlyP at a micromolar level. Thus, this study would lead to practical real-time sensing in water for various fields including environmental assessment.

Differentiation of Electric Response in Highly Oriented Regioregular Poly(3-hexylthiophene) under Anisotropic Strain

Exploring flexible and stretchable conjugated polymer devices has garnered particular attention. This work provides a new technology to improve the electrical properties in a stretching process by skillfully assisting the anisotropic tensile properties of oriented regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films. Oriented P3HT films with a long-range ordered chain alignment are fabricated, and stretchable conducting films are achieved by laminating oriented P3HT films and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers. The differentiation of electrical response is identified when the film is under different stretching directions. The electrical stability of the P3HT film during the stretching process is much better when the stretching direction is perpendicular than along the c-axis of the P3HT film. Moreover, the multiscale structure evolution of P3HT films under stretching is explored. The technology based on oriented conductive polymers under anisotropic stretching condition provides not only a new strategy for fabricating high-quality stretchable devices but also theoretical guidance for studying the mechanical properties for the aligned conjugated film.

Grain Boundary Control of Organic Semiconductors via Solvent Vapor Annealing for High-Sensitivity NO2 Detection

The microstructure of the organic semiconductor (OSC) active layer is one of the crucial topics to improve the sensing performance of gas sensors. Herein, we introduce a simple solvent vapor annealing (SVA) process to control 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) OSC films morphology and thus yields high-sensitivity nitrogen organic thin-film transistor (OTFT)-based nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) sensors. Compared to pristine devices, the toluene SVA-treated devices exhibit an order of magnitude responsivity enhancement to 10 ppm NO₂, further with a limit of detection of 148 ppb. Systematic studies on the microstructure of the TIPS-pentacene films reveal the large density grain boundaries formed by the SVA process, improving the capability for the adsorption of gas molecules, thus causing high-sensitivity to NO₂. This simple SVA processing strategy provides an effective and reliable access for realizing high-sensitivity OTFT NO₂ sensors.

Orientation of Poly(ε-caprolactone) in Its Poly(vinyl chloride) Blends Crystallized under Strain: The Role of Strain Rate

The blends of high and low molecular weights poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with poly(vinyl chloride (PVC) were prepared. The samples before and after the crystallization of PCL were uniaxially stretched to different draw ratios. The orientation features of PCL in a stretched crystalline PCL/PVC blend and crystallized from the amorphous PCL/PVC blends under varied strains were studied by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) diffraction. It was found that a uniaxial stretching of crystalline PCL/PVC blend with high molecular weight PCL results in the c-axis orientation along the stretching direction, as is usually done for the PCL bulk sample. For the stretched amorphous PCL/PVC blend samples, the crystallization of high molecular weight PCL in the blends under a draw ratio of λ = 3 with a strain rate of 6 mm/min leads to a ring-fiber orientation. In the samples with draw ratios of λ = 4 and 5, the uniaxial orientation of a-, b-, and c-axes along the strain direction coexist after crystallization of high molecular weight PCL. With a draw ratio of λ = 6, mainly the b-axis orientation of high molecular weight PCL is identified. For the low molecular weight PCL, on the contrary, the ring-fiber and a-axis orientations coexist under a draw ratio of λ = 3. The a-axis orientation decreases with the increase of draw ratio. When the λ reaches 5, only a poorly oriented ring-fiber pattern has been recognized. These results are different from the similar samples stretched at a higher strain rate as reported in the literatures and demonstrate the important role of strain rate on the crystallization behavior of PCL in its blend with PVC under strain.

Eutectic friction transfer lithography: a facile solid-state route for highly crystalline semiconducting polymers

Herein, we report a solid-state lithography technique utilizing eutectic friction transfer lithography (EFTL). The EFTL technique employs eutectic pellets made of semiconducting polymers and volatile organic solid matrices. Using frictional heating and eutectic melting, various semiconducting polymer crystals were formed by a simple rubbing process under mild conditions. The strong anisotropic optical properties suggest that J-type packing is dominant in EFTL microwires because of the highly extended and planarized crystal structures.

Brush Printing Creates Polarized Green Fluorescence: 3D Orientation Mapping and Stochastic Analysis of Conductive Polymer Films

Brush printing is a unique method used to obtain uniaxially oriented films, whereby a polymer solution is brushed onto a substrate. However, there have been only a few reports on the brush-printing method. Here, we report the preparation of a uniaxially oriented film of a green light-emitting conductive polymer, poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT). The fluorescence polarization ratio of the oriented F8BT films was as high as 11.3, and the average orientation factor reached 0.74 ± 0.06. The orientation factor and the torsion angle of F8BT were visualized by two mappings of fluorescence and Raman spectral measurements by confocal spectromicroscopy, respectively. These two x-y mapping data with many pixels (∼750 pixels) were evaluated by x-y-z mapping of the film thickness at a single position and were used to reveal the three-dimensional (3D) orientation mechanism from a stochastic approach. Polarized green fluorescence originates from polymer chains uniaxially oriented along the brush direction. The high orientation for a film thickness < 100 nm is established by shear stress, faster capillary flow, and flow-induced chain extension for a thin solution film on a substrate. The high orientation factor was also demonstrated by a high brushing speed, whereas an optimized brushing speed existed. We found that this optimization is attributed to the property of a non-Newtonian fluid. By applying this brush-printing method to the fabrication of an optoelectrical device, polarized green electroluminescence was preliminarily demonstrated by the OLED assembled from an oriented F8BT film.

Controlled polymer crystal/two-dimensional material heterostructures for high-performance photoelectronic applications

The control of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) crystal-based heterostructures wherein the interfaces of 2D nanomaterials are vertically stacked with other thin functional materials via van der Waals interactions is highly important for not only optimizing the excellent properties of 2D nanomaterials, but also for utilizing the functionality of the contact materials. In particular, when 2D nanomaterials are combined with soft polymeric components, the resulting photoelectronic devices are potentially scalable and mechanically flexible, allowing the development of a variety of prototype soft-electronic devices, such as solar cells, displays, photodetectors, and non-volatile memory devices. Diverse polymer/2D heterostructures are frequently employed, but the performance of the devices with heterostructures is limited, mainly because of the difficulty in controlling the molecular structures of the polymers on the 2D surface. Thus, understanding the crystal interactions of polymers on atomically flat and dangling-bond-free surfaces of 2D materials is essential for ensuring high performance. In this study, the recent progress made in the development of thin polymer films fabricated on the surfaces of various 2D nanomaterials for high-performance photoelectronic devices is comprehensively reviewed, with an emphasis on the control of the molecular and crystalline structures of the polymers on the 2D surface.

Fabrication of Dipole-Aligned Thin Films of Porphyrin J-Aggregates over Large Surfaces

We report a new approach for large-scale alignment of micron-sized J-aggregates of a derivative of porphyrin onto planar glass substrates. We applied a unidirectional nitrogen flow to an aqueous dye drop deposited onto a glass substrate to form an about 5 nm thick film of aligned J-aggregates over macroscopic surface areas up to several millimeters. The inter-aggregate distance is ∼500 nm, and it scales with the nitrogen pressure. We verified the film thickness and J-aggregate alignment using multimodal microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. Our technique is fast, simple, and cost-effective for producing large two-dimensional (2-D) arrays of aligned emitters.