1
|
Ruffino R, Jankowski M, Konovalov O, Punzo F, Tuccitto N, Li-Destri G. Modulating Polymer Ultrathin Film Crystalline Fraction and Orientation with Nanoscale Curvature. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4453. [PMID: 38006177 PMCID: PMC10674544 DOI: 10.3390/polym15224453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effect of nanoscale curvature on the structure of thermally equilibrated poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) ultrathin films. The curvature-induced effects were investigated with synchrotron grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results demonstrate that nanoscale curvature reduces the polymer crystalline fraction and the crystal length. The first effect is strongest for the lowest curvature and results in a decrease in the out-of-plane thickness of the polymer crystals. On the other hand, the crystal in-plane length decreases with the increase in substrate curvature. Finally, the semi-quantitative analysis of crystal anisotropy shows a marked dependence on the substrate curvature characterized by a minimum at curvatures between 0.00851 nm-1 and 0.0140 nm-1. The results are discussed in terms of a curvature-dependent polymer fraction, which fills the interstices between neighboring particles and cannot crystallize due to extreme space confinement. This fraction, whose thickness is highest at the lowest curvatures, inhibits the crystal nucleation and the out-of-plane crystal growth. Moreover, because of the adhesion to the curved portion of the substrates, crystals adopt a random orientation. By increasing the substrate curvature, the amorphous fraction is reduced, leading to polymer films with higher crystallinity. Finally, when the thickness of the film exceeds the particle diameter, the curvature no longer affects the crystal orientation, which, similarly to the flat case, is predominantly edge on.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ruffino
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy; (R.R.); (N.T.)
| | - Maciej Jankowski
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS40220, CEDEX 9, 38043 Grenoble, France; (M.J.); (O.K.)
| | - Oleg Konovalov
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS40220, CEDEX 9, 38043 Grenoble, France; (M.J.); (O.K.)
| | - Francesco Punzo
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy;
| | - Nunzio Tuccitto
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy; (R.R.); (N.T.)
| | - Giovanni Li-Destri
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy; (R.R.); (N.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Feng Y, Jiang L, Yang A, Liu X, Yang L, Lu G, Li S. Interfacial Effect on Dielectric Properties of Self-Assembled Polythiourea-Based Copolymers for Ultrahigh Energy Storage. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 43:e2100700. [PMID: 34850981 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Polymer dielectrics are highly desirable in capacitor applications due to their low cost, high stability, and reliability. However, there still remains a lack of feasible methods to prepare polymer dielectrics with high energy density and low dielectric loss, which severely hampers the development of compact and efficient power electronics. Here, an amphiphilic block copolymer, polythiourea-b-polydimethylsiloxane (PTU-b-PDMS), with an extraordinarily high energy density of 29.8 J cm-3 and a low loss is synthesized via polyaddition polymerization. This is highly relevant to the block molecule conformation in the interfacial region of the self-assembled PTU-b-PDMS. The block molecule in the interface adopts an extended conformation when the PTU forms nanodots, whereas the block molecule adopts a coiled conformation when the PTU forms nanostrands. The observation and characterization have proved that the coiled block molecule in the interfacial region can simultaneously induce extra strong charge trapping sites and dipolar polarization. It substantially improves the breakdown strength from 652 to 1166 MV m-1 , while maintaining a high dielectric constant of 5 and a low loss of <0.01. This work offers unprecedented structural insights into the conformation-induced interfacial effect and enables rational design of self-assembled copolymers to boost their dielectric properties and energy density.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Liuhao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Anqi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Xia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Liuqing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Guanghao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Shengtao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tuning the randomization of lamellar orientation in poly(3-hexylthiophene) thin films with substrate nano-curvature. POLYMER 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
4
|
Reghunadhan A, Datta J, Kalarikkal N, Thomas S. Development of nanoscale morphology and role of viscoelastic phase separation on the properties of epoxy/recycled polyurethane blends. POLYMER 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2017.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
5
|
|
6
|
Jasieniak JJ, Treat ND, McNeill CR, de Villers BJT, Della Gaspera E, Chabinyc ML. Interfacial Characteristics of Efficient Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells Fabricated on MoOx Anode Interlayers. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2016; 28:3944-3951. [PMID: 26468898 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201503309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The role of the interface between an MoOx anode interlayer and a polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunction is investigated. Processing differences in the MoOx induce large variations in the vertical stratification of the bulk heterojunction films. These variations are found to be inconsistent in predicting device performance, with a much better gauge being the quantity of polymer chemisorbed to the anode interlayer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacek J Jasieniak
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Neil D Treat
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Kensington, London, SW7 2ZA, UK
| | - Christopher R McNeill
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | | | - Enrico Della Gaspera
- Manufacturing Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Michael L Chabinyc
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pan H, Xu X, Jiang B, Chen J, Jin Z. Effect of the extent and morphology of phase separation on the thermal behavior of co-blending systems based on soy protein isolate/alginate. Food Hydrocoll 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2015.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
8
|
Li-Destri G, Tummino A, Malfatti Gasperini AA, Parellada Monreal L, Messina GML, Spampinato V, Ceccone G, Konovalov O. Filling nanoporous polymer thin films: an easy route toward the full control of the 3D nanostructure. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra26053a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A fully controllable interpenetrated 3D nanostructure is obtained by filling a nanoporous polymer ultrathin film with a second organic component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - A. Tummino
- ESRF-The European Synchrotron
- Grenoble
- France
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN)
- Department of Chemistry
| | | | | | - G. M. L. Messina
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN)
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Catania and CSGI
- 95125 Catania
- Italy
| | - V. Spampinato
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Institute for Health and Consumer Protection
- Ispra
- Italy
| | - G. Ceccone
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Institute for Health and Consumer Protection
- Ispra
- Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li Destri G, Miano F, Marletta G. Structure-rheology relationship in weakly amphiphilic block copolymer Langmuir monolayers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:3345-3353. [PMID: 24650052 DOI: 10.1021/la4043777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The linear viscoelastic behavior in the low-frequency regime at the water/air interface of three different polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) copolymer monolayers, with block length ratio varying from 66-33 to 50-50 and 25-75 in molecular units, was studied and related to the interfacial behavior, characterized by means of Langmuir isotherms, and their structure, characterized by means of the atomic force microscopy technique. The two monolayers with the highest PMMA amount showed a single phase transition at about 12 mN/m, the viscoelastic behavior changing from a predominantly elastic to a viscoelastic one. This change in the viscoelastic properties was ascribed to the beginning of entanglement among the PMMA coronas of the predominantly circular quasi-2D micelles formed by the two copolymer systems. Conversely, the polymer with the lowest PMMA amount, despite having the same PMMA block length of the PS-PMMA 50-50 block copolymer, was found to behave as a viscoelastic system at any surface pressure value. This characteristic behavior cannot therefore be simply related to the molecular weight difference, but it has been put in connection to the irregular micelle structure observed in this case, consisting of a mixture of spherical and wormlike micelles, and to the different conformation adopted by the PMMA block. By blending this copolymer with an immiscible elastic homopolymer, namely poly(2-vinylpyridine), it was possible to tune the micelle nanostructure, obtaining regular circular quasi-2D micelles, with viscoelastic properties as expected for the PMMA-rich copolymer monolayers. To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time the explicit dependence upon the relative block length and, in turn, upon the nanostructure of the quasi-2D micelles, of the viscoelastic properties of Langmuir monolayers and suggests that molecular weight and intermolecular interactions are not the only parameters governing the polymer conformation and, in turn, the polymer rheology and dynamics in quasi-2D confined systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Li Destri
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN), Department of Chemistry, University of Catania and CSGI , V.le A Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chepelianskii AD, Wang J, Friend RH. Low-temperature transport properties of photogenerated charges in organic materials. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014; 112:126802. [PMID: 24724667 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.112.126802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report a new experimental method to measure the localization length of photogenerated carriers in an organic donor-acceptor photovoltaic blend by comparing their dielectric and electron spin-resonance susceptibilities, which are simultaneously measured by monitoring the resonance frequency of a superconducting resonator. We show that at cryogenic temperatures excitons are dissociated into long lived states, but that these are confined within a separation of around 4 nm. We determine the Debye and recombination times, showing the coexistence of a fast electrical response corresponding to delocalized motion, with glasslike recombination kinetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A D Chepelianskii
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 OHE, United Kingdom
| | - Jianpu Wang
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 OHE, United Kingdom and Institute of Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - R H Friend
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Russo P, Acierno D, Marletta G, Destri GL. Tensile properties, thermal and morphological analysis of thermoplastic polyurethane films reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Eur Polym J 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
12
|
|
13
|
Casalegno M, Zanardi S, Frigerio F, Po R, Carbonera C, Marra G, Nicolini T, Raos G, Meille SV. Solvent-free phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) from clathrates: insights for organic photovoltaics from crystal structures and molecular dynamics. Chem Commun (Camb) 2013; 49:4525-7. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc40863a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|