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Stroet M, Sanderson S, Sanzogni AV, Nada S, Lee T, Caron B, Mark AE, Burn PL. PyThinFilm: Automated Molecular Dynamics Simulation Protocols for the Generation of Thin Film Morphologies. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:2-8. [PMID: 36539938 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The performance of organic optoelectronic devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OSCs), is intrinsically related to the molecular-scale morphology of the thin films from which they are composed. However, the experimental characterization of morphology at the molecular level is challenging due to the often amorphous or at best semicrystalline nature of these films. Classical molecular modeling techniques, such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, are increasingly used to understand the relationship between morphology and the properties of thin-film devices. PyThinFilm (github.com/ATB-UQ/PyThinFilm) is an open-source Python package which allows fully automated MD simulations of thin film growth to be performed using vacuum and/or solution deposition processes. PyThinFilm utilizes the GROMACS simulation package in combination with interaction parameters from the Automated Topology Builder (atb.uq.edu.au). Here, PyThinFilm is described along with an overview of applications in which PyThinFilm has been used to study the thin films of organic semiconductor materials typically used in OLEDs and OSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Stroet
- Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia.,Molecular Dynamics Group, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
| | - Stephen Sanderson
- The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland4811, Australia
| | - Audrey V Sanzogni
- Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia.,Molecular Dynamics Group, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
| | - Sharif Nada
- Molecular Dynamics Group, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
| | - Thomas Lee
- Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia.,Molecular Dynamics Group, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
| | - Bertrand Caron
- Molecular Dynamics Group, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
| | - Alan E Mark
- Molecular Dynamics Group, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
| | - Paul L Burn
- Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland4072, Australia
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Sanderson S, Vamvounis G, Mark AE, Burn PL, White RD, Philippa BW. Understanding the performance differences between solution and vacuum deposited OLEDs: A computational approach. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:214703. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0091142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Solution-processing of organic light-emitting diode films has potential advantages in terms of cost and scalability over vacuum-deposition for large area applications. However, solution processed small molecule films can have lower overall device performance. Here, novel molecular dynamics techniques are developed to enable faster simulation of solvent evaporation that occurs during solution processing and give films of thicknesses relevant to real devices. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations are then used in combination with kinetic Monte Carlo transport modeling to examine how differences in morphology stemming from solution or vacuum film deposition affect charge transport and exciton dynamics in films consisting of light-emitting bis(2-phenylpyridine)(acetylacetonate)iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)2(acac)] guest molecules in a 4,4′-bis( N-carbazolyl)biphenyl host. While the structures of the films deposited from vacuum and solution were found to differ, critically, only minor variations in the transport properties were predicted by the simulations even if trapped solvent was present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Sanderson
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - George Vamvounis
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Alan E. Mark
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul L. Burn
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ronald D. White
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Bronson W. Philippa
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
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Stein L, Boden P, Naumann R, Förster C, Niedner-Schatteburg G, Heinze K. The overlooked NIR luminescence of Cr(ppy) 3. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:3701-3704. [PMID: 35226026 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc00680d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cr(ppy)3, a structural analog of the green phosphorescent Ir(ppy)3, emits even in solution at room temperature from a weakly distorted spin-flip state at 910 nm (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine). The low energy arises from an enhanced covalence of the Cr-C bonds as compared to Cr-N bonds. Lower temperature reduces thermally activated decay increasing the emission intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stein
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Pit Boden
- Department of Chemistry and Research Center Optimas, TU Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 52, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Robert Naumann
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Christoph Förster
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Gereon Niedner-Schatteburg
- Department of Chemistry and Research Center Optimas, TU Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 52, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Katja Heinze
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, Germany.
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Hole Injection Role of p-Type Conjugated Polymer Nanolayers in Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Devices. ELECTRONICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/electronics10182283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Here, we report the hole injection role of p-type conjugated polymer layer in phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanolayers (thickness = ~1 nm thick), which were subjected to thermal annealing at 140 °C by varying annealing time, were inserted between indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes and hole transport layers (N,N′-bis(naphthalen-1-yl)-N,N′-bis(phenyl)-benzidine, NPB). The 1 nm-thick P3HT layers showed very weak absorption in the visible light range of 500~650 nm. The device results disclosed that the presence of P3HT layers were just able to improve the charge injection of OLEDs leading to an enhanced luminance irrespective of thermal annealing condition. The highest luminance and efficiency were achieved for the OLEDs with the P3HT layers annealed at 140 °C for 10 min. Further annealing for 30 min resulted in turn-down of device performances. The emission color was almost unchanged by the presence of P3HT layers even though the color coordinates were marginally fluctuated according to the annealing time. The present result delivers the possibility to use p-type conjugated polymers (i.e., P3HT) as a hole injection layer in OLEDs.
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