1
|
Coker JF, Moro S, Gertsen AS, Shi X, Pearce D, van der Schelling MP, Xu Y, Zhang W, Andreasen JW, Snyder CR, Richter LJ, Bird MJ, McCulloch I, Costantini G, Frost JM, Nelson J. Perpendicular crossing chains enable high mobility in a noncrystalline conjugated polymer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403879121. [PMID: 39226361 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403879121] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The nature of interchain π-system contacts, and their relationship to hole transport, are elucidated for the high-mobility, noncrystalline conjugated polymer C16-IDTBT by the application of scanning tunneling microscopy, molecular dynamics, and quantum chemical calculations. The microstructure is shown to favor an unusual packing motif in which paired chains cross-over one another at near-perpendicular angles. By linking to mesoscale microstructural features, revealed by coarse-grained molecular dynamics and previous studies, and performing simulations of charge transport, it is demonstrated that the high mobility of C16-IDTBT can be explained by the promotion of a highly interconnected transport network, stemming from the adoption of perpendicular contacts at the nanoscale, in combination with fast intrachain transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack F Coker
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Moro
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Anders S Gertsen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Xingyuan Shi
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Drew Pearce
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Martin P van der Schelling
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Yucheng Xu
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Weimin Zhang
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Solar Center, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jens W Andreasen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Chad R Snyder
- Material Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Lee J Richter
- Material Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Matthew J Bird
- Chemistry Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
| | - Iain McCulloch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Costantini
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Jarvist M Frost
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Nelson
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mallada B, Villalobos F, Donoso B, Casares R, Longhi G, Mendieta-Moreno JI, Jiménez-Martín A, Haïdour A, Seepersaud R, Rajagopal L, de la Torre B, Millán A, Cuerva JM. Single-Molecule Identification of the Isomers of a Lipidic Antibody Activator. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:6935-6942. [PMID: 38935930 PMCID: PMC11247479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Molecular structural elucidation can be accomplished by different techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance or X-ray diffraction. However, the former does not give information about the three-dimensional atomic arrangement, and the latter needs crystallizable solid samples. An alternative is direct, real-space visualization of the molecules by cryogenic scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). This technique is usually limited to thermally robust molecules because an annealing step is required for sample deposition. A landmark development has been the coupling of STM with electrospray deposition (ESD), which smooths the process and widens the scope of the visualization technique. In this work, we present the on-surface characterization of air-, light-, and temperature-sensitive rhamnopolyene with relevance in molecular biology. Supported by theoretical calculations, we characterize two isomers of this flexible molecule, confirming the potential of the technique to inspect labile, non-crystallizable compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Mallada
- Institute
of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16200 Prague, Czech Republic
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology
and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký
University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Federico Villalobos
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Beatriz Donoso
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Raquel Casares
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Giovanna Longhi
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale, Universitá di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Jesús I. Mendieta-Moreno
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Jiménez-Martín
- Institute
of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16200 Prague, Czech Republic
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology
and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký
University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Faculty
of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, 11519 Prague, Czech
Republic
| | - Ali Haïdour
- Unidad
de Resonancia Magnética Nuclear, Centro de Instrumentación
Científica, Universidad de Granada, Paseo Juan Osorio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Ravin Seepersaud
- Center
for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Center
for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Department
of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
| | - Bruno de la Torre
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology
and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký
University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Alba Millán
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan M. Cuerva
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Unidad de Excelencia de Química
Aplicada a la Biomedicina y Medioambiente, C. U. Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Moro S, Spencer SE, Lester DW, Nübling F, Sommer M, Costantini G. Molecular-Scale Imaging Enables Direct Visualization of Molecular Defects and Chain Structure of Conjugated Polymers. ACS NANO 2024; 18:11655-11664. [PMID: 38652866 PMCID: PMC11080458 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Conjugated polymers have become materials of choice for applications ranging from flexible optoelectronics to neuromorphic computing, but their polydispersity and tendency to aggregate pose severe challenges to their precise characterization. Here, the combination of vacuum electrospray deposition (ESD) with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to acquire, within the same experiment, assembly patterns, full mass distributions, exact sequencing, and quantification of polymerization defects. In a first step, the ESD-STM results are successfully benchmarked against NMR for low molecular mass polymers, where this technique is still applicable. Then, it is shown that ESD-STM is capable of reaching beyond its limits by characterizing, with the same accuracy, samples that are inaccessible to NMR. Finally, a recalibration procedure is proposed for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) mass distributions, using ESD-STM results as a reference. The distinctiveness of the molecular-scale information obtained by ESD-STM highlights its role as a crucial technique for the characterization of conjugated polymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Moro
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | | | - Daniel W. Lester
- Polymer
Characterisation Research Technology Platform, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Fritz Nübling
- Institute
for Macromolecular Chemistry, University
of Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - Michael Sommer
- Institute
for Chemistry, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz 09111, Germany
- Center
for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz 09126, Germany
| | - Giovanni Costantini
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Surgailis J, Flagg LQ, Richter LJ, Druet V, Griggs S, Wu X, Moro S, Ohayon D, Kousseff CJ, Marks A, Maria IP, Chen H, Moser M, Costantini G, McCulloch I, Inal S. The Role of Side Chains and Hydration on Mixed Charge Transport in n-Type Polymer Films. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2313121. [PMID: 38554042 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Introducing ethylene glycol (EG) side chains to a conjugated polymer backbone is a well-established synthetic strategy for designing organic mixed ion-electron conductors (OMIECs). However, the impact that film swelling has on mixed conduction properties has yet to be scoped, particularly for electron-transporting (n-type) OMIECs. Here, the authors investigate the effect of the length of branched EG chains on mixed charge transport of n-type OMIECs based on a naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic-diimide-bithiophene backbone. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) are used to establish the similarities between the common-backbone films in dry conditions. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D) and in situ GIWAXS measurements reveal stark changes in film swelling properties and microstructure during electrochemical doping, depending on the side chain length. It is found that even in the loss of the crystallite content upon contact with the aqueous electrolyte, the films can effectively transport charges and that it is rather the high water content that harms the electronic interconnectivity within the OMIEC films. These results highlight the importance of controlling water uptake in the films to impede charge transport in n-type electrochemical devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jokūbas Surgailis
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Organic Bioelectronics Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lucas Q Flagg
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Materials Science and Engineering Division, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Lee J Richter
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Materials Science and Engineering Division, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Victor Druet
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Organic Bioelectronics Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sophie Griggs
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Xiaocui Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Stefania Moro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - David Ohayon
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Organic Bioelectronics Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christina J Kousseff
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Adam Marks
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Iuliana P Maria
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Hu Chen
- KAUST, KAUST Solar Center, Physical Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maximilian Moser
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Giovanni Costantini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Iain McCulloch
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
- KAUST, KAUST Solar Center, Physical Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sahika Inal
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Organic Bioelectronics Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Voigt J, Hasan M, Wäckerlin C, Karnik AV, Ernst KH. Switching the on-surface orientation of oxygen-functionalized helicene. Chirality 2024; 36:e23642. [PMID: 38384155 DOI: 10.1002/chir.23642] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Helicenes represent an important class of chiral organic material with promising optoelectronic properties. Hence, functionalization of surfaces with helicenes is a key step toward new organic materials devices. The deposition of a heterohelicene containing two furano groups and two hydroxyl groups onto copper(111) surface in ultrahigh vacuum leads to different adsorbate modifications. At low coverage and low temperature, the molecules tend to lie on the surface in order to maximize van der Waals contact with the substrate. Thermal treatment leads to deprotonation of the hydroxyl groups and in part into a reorientation from lying into a standing adsorbate mode.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Voigt
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Mohammed Hasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
| | - Christian Wäckerlin
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Laboratory for X-ray Nanoscience and Technologies, Paul-Scherrer-Institut (PSI), Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Anil V Karnik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
| | - Karl-Heinz Ernst
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Nanosurf Lab, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Theunissen D, Smeets S, Maes W. Single-component organic solar cells-Perspective on the importance of chemical precision in conjugated block copolymers. Front Chem 2023; 11:1326131. [PMID: 38694020 PMCID: PMC11061845 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1326131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Organic photovoltaics (OPV) present a promising thin-film solar cell technology with particular benefits in terms of weight, aesthetics, transparency, and cost. However, despite being studied intensively since the mid 90's, OPV has not entered the mass consumer market yet. Although the efficiency gap with other thin-film photovoltaics has largely been overcome, active layer stability and performance reproducibility issues have not been fully resolved. State-of-the-art OPV devices employ a physical mixture of electron donor and acceptor molecules in a bulk heterojunction active layer. These blends are prone to morphological changes, leading to performance losses over time. On the other hand, in "single-component" organic solar cells, the donor and acceptor constituents are chemically connected within a single material, preventing demixing and thereby enhancing device stability. Novel single-component materials affording reasonably high solar cell efficiencies and improved lifetimes have recently emerged. In particular, the combination of donor and acceptor structures in conjugated block copolymers (CBCs) presents an exciting approach. Nevertheless, the current CBCs are poorly defined from a structural point of view, while synthetic protocols remain unoptimized. More controlled synthesis followed by proper structural analysis of CBCs is, however, essential to develop rational structure-property-device relations and to drive the field forward. In this perspective, we provide a short overview of the state-of-the-art in single-component organic solar cells prepared from CBCs, reflect on their troublesome characterization and the importance of chemical precision in these structures, give some recommendations, and discuss the potential impact of these aspects on the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dries Theunissen
- Design and Synthesis of Organic Semiconductors, Institute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Associated Lab IMOMEC, IMEC, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Energyville, Genk, Belgium
| | - Sander Smeets
- Design and Synthesis of Organic Semiconductors, Institute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Associated Lab IMOMEC, IMEC, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Energyville, Genk, Belgium
| | - Wouter Maes
- Design and Synthesis of Organic Semiconductors, Institute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Associated Lab IMOMEC, IMEC, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Energyville, Genk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Seibel J, Fittolani G, Mirhosseini H, Wu X, Rauschenbach S, Anggara K, Seeberger PH, Delbianco M, Kühne TD, Schlickum U, Kern K. Visualizing Chiral Interactions in Carbohydrates Adsorbed on Au(111) by High-Resolution STM Imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202305733. [PMID: 37522820 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202305733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Carbohydrates are the most abundant organic material on Earth and the structural "material of choice" in many living systems. Nevertheless, design and engineering of synthetic carbohydrate materials presently lag behind that for protein and nucleic acids. Bottom-up engineering of carbohydrate materials demands an atomic-level understanding of their molecular structures and interactions in condensed phases. Here, high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to visualize at submolecular resolution the three-dimensional structure of cellulose oligomers assembled on Au(1111) and the interactions that drive their assembly. The STM imaging, supported by ab initio calculations, reveals the orientation of all glycosidic bonds and pyranose rings in the oligomers, as well as details of intermolecular interactions between the oligomers. By comparing the assembly of D- and L-oligomers, these interactions are shown to be enantioselective, capable of driving spontaneous enantioseparation of cellulose chains from its unnatural enantiomer and promoting the formation of engineered carbohydrate assemblies in the condensed phases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Seibel
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Applied Physics and Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany
- Current address: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Giulio Fittolani
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hossein Mirhosseini
- Dynamics of Condensed Matter and Center for Sustainable Systems Design, Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Paderborn, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Xu Wu
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Stephan Rauschenbach
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, OX13TA, Oxford, UK
| | - Kelvin Anggara
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Delbianco
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Thomas D Kühne
- Dynamics of Condensed Matter and Center for Sustainable Systems Design, Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Paderborn, 33098, Paderborn, Germany
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) and Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 02826, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Uta Schlickum
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Applied Physics and Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Klaus Kern
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institut de Physique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhou YY, Xu YC, Yao ZF, Li JY, Pan CK, Lu Y, Yang CY, Ding L, Xiao BF, Wang XY, Shao Y, Zhang WB, Wang JY, Wang H, Pei J. Visualizing the multi-level assembly structures of conjugated molecular systems with chain-length dependent behavior. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3340. [PMID: 37286537 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39133-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
It remains challenging to understand the structural evolution of conjugated polymers from single chains to solvated aggregates and film microstructures, although it underpins the performance of optoelectrical devices fabricated via the mainstream solution processing method. With several ensemble visual measurements, here we unravel the morphological evolution process of a model system of isoindigo-based conjugated molecules, including the hidden molecular assembly pathways, the mesoscale network formation, and their unorthodox chain dependence. Short chains show rigid chain conformations forming discrete aggregates in solution, which further grow to form a highly ordered film that exhibits poor electrical performance. In contrast, long chains exhibit flexible chain conformations, creating interlinked aggregates networks in solution, which are directly imprinted into films, forming interconnective solid-state microstructure with excellent electrical performance. Visualizing multi-level assembly structures of conjugated molecules provides a deep understanding of the inheritance of assemblies from solution to solid-state, accelerating the optimization of device fabrication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Zhou
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yu-Chun Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ze-Fan Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jia-Ye Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chen-Kai Pan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chi-Yuan Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Li Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bu-Fan Xiao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xin-Yi Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yu Shao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jie-Yu Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jian Pei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center or Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Moro S, Siemons N, Drury O, Warr DA, Moriarty TA, Perdigão LM, Pearce D, Moser M, Hallani RK, Parker J, McCulloch I, Frost JM, Nelson J, Costantini G. The Effect of Glycol Side Chains on the Assembly and Microstructure of Conjugated Polymers. ACS NANO 2022; 16:21303-21314. [PMID: 36516000 PMCID: PMC9798861 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated polymers with glycol-based chains, are emerging as a material class with promising applications as organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors, particularly in bioelectronics and thermoelectrics. However, little is still known about their microstructure and the role of the side chains in determining intermolecular interactions and polymer packing. Here, we use the combination of electrospray deposition and scanning tunneling microscopy to determine the microstructure of prototypical glycolated conjugated polymers (pgBTTT and p(g2T-TT)) with submonomer resolution. Molecular dynamics simulations of the same surface-adsorbed polymers exhibit an excellent agreement with the experimental images, allowing us to extend the characterization of the polymers to the atomic scale. Our results prove that, similarly to their alkylated counterparts, glycolated polymers assemble through interdigitation of their side chains, although significant differences are found in their conformation and interaction patterns. A model is proposed that identifies the driving force for the polymer assembly in the tendency of the side chains to adopt the conformation of their free analogues, i.e., polyethylene and polyethylene glycol, for alkyl or ethylene glycol side chains, respectively. For both classes of polymers, it is also demonstrated that the backbone conformation is determined to a higher degree by the interaction between the side chains rather than by the backbone torsional potential energy. The generalization of these findings from two-dimensional (2D) monolayers to three-dimensional thin films is discussed, together with the opportunity to use this type of 2D study to gain so far inaccessible, subnm-scale information on the microstructure of conjugated polymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Moro
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Siemons
- Department
of Physics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Drury
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel A. Warr
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. Moriarty
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Luís M.
A. Perdigão
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Drew Pearce
- Department
of Physics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian Moser
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Rawad K. Hallani
- Physical
Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joseph Parker
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Iain McCulloch
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
- Physical
Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jarvist M. Frost
- Department
of Physics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Nelson
- Department
of Physics, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Costantini
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Peng Z, Ye L, Ade H. Understanding, quantifying, and controlling the molecular ordering of semiconducting polymers: from novices to experts and amorphous to perfect crystals. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:577-606. [PMID: 34878458 DOI: 10.1039/d0mh00837k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Molecular packing and texture of semiconducting polymers are often critical to the performance of devices using these materials. Although frameworks exist to quantify the ordering, interpretations are often just qualitative, resulting in imprecise use of terminology. Here, we reemphasize the significance of quantifying molecular ordering in terms of degree of crystallinity (volume fractions that are ordered) and quality of ordering and their relation to the size scale of an ordered region. We are motivated in part by our own imprecise and inconsistent use of terminology in the past, as well as the need to have a primer or tutorial reference to teach new group members. We strive to develop and use consistent terminology with regards to crystallinity, semicrystallinity, paracrystallinity, and related characteristics. To account for vastly different quality of ordering along different directions, we classify paracrystals into 2D and 3D paracrystals and use paracrystallite to describe the spatial extent of molecular ordering in 1-10 nm. We show that a deeper understanding of molecular ordering can be achieved by combining grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry, even though not all aspects of these measurements are consistent, and some classification appears to be method dependent. We classify a broad range of representative polymers under common processing conditions into five categories based on the quantitative analysis of the paracrystalline disorder parameter (g) and thermal transitions. A small database is presented for 13 representative conjugated and insulating polymers ranging from amorphous to semi-paracrystalline. Finally, we outline the challenges to rationally design more perfect polymer crystals and propose a new molecular design approach that envisions conceptual molecular grafting that is akin to strained and unstrained hetero-epitaxy in classic (compound) semiconductors thin film growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengxing Peng
- Department of Physics and Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories (ORaCEL), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA.
| | - Long Ye
- Department of Physics and Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories (ORaCEL), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA.
| | - Harald Ade
- Department of Physics and Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories (ORaCEL), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Luo N, Ren P, Feng Y, Shao X, Zhang HL, Liu Z. Side-Chain Engineering of Conjugated Polymers for High-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:1131-1146. [PMID: 35084195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Past decades have witnessed the rapid development of conjugated polymers because of their promising semiconducting properties and applications in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Recent studies have shown that side-chain engineering of conjugated polymers is an efficient strategy to increase semiconducting performance. This Perspective focuses on the side-chain modulation of conjugated polymers and evaluating their effects on the performance of OFETs. The challenges and potential applications of functional high-performance OFETs through side-chain engineering are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Peng Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Xiangfeng Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hao-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zitong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry (SKLAOC), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Understanding the thermal-annealing-generated stable structure of phthalocyanine derivative/polymer bicomponent systems through scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
13
|
Zhao K, Zhang T, Zhang L, Li J, Li H, Wu F, Chen Y, Zhang Q, Han Y. Role of Molecular Weight in Microstructural Transition and Its Correlation to the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of P(NDI2OD-T2) Thin Films. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kefeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Tao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Junhang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Hongxiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
| | - Yanchun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, P. R. China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Reisjalali M, Burgos-Mármol JJ, Manurung R, Troisi A. Local structuring of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based oligomers from molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:19693-19707. [PMID: 34525153 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03257g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The microscopic structure of high mobility semiconducting polymers is known to be essential for their performance but it cannot be easily deduced from the available experimental data. A series of short oligomers of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based materials that display high charge mobility are studied by molecular dynamics simulations to understand their local structuring at an atomic level. Different analyses are proposed to compare the ability of different oligomers to form large aggregates and their driving force. The simulations show that the tendency for this class of materials to form aggregates is driven by the interaction between DPP fragments, but this is modulated by the other conjugated fragments of the materials which affect the rigidity of the polymer and, ultimately, the size of the aggregates that are formed. The main structural features and the electronic structure of the oligomers are fairly similar above the glass transition temperature and at room temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Reisjalali
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Place, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
| | | | - Rex Manurung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Place, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Place, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hallani RK, Paulsen BD, Petty AJ, Sheelamanthula R, Moser M, Thorley KJ, Sohn W, Rashid RB, Savva A, Moro S, Parker JP, Drury O, Alsufyani M, Neophytou M, Kosco J, Inal S, Costantini G, Rivnay J, McCulloch I. Regiochemistry-Driven Organic Electrochemical Transistor Performance Enhancement in Ethylene Glycol-Functionalized Polythiophenes. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:11007-11018. [PMID: 34192463 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c03516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Novel p-type semiconducting polymers that can facilitate ion penetration, and operate in accumulation mode are much desired in bioelectronics. Glycol side chains have proven to be an efficient method to increase bulk electrochemical doping and optimize aqueous swelling. One early polymer which exemplifies these design approaches was p(g2T-TT), employing a bithiophene-co-thienothiophene backbone with glycol side chains in the 3,3' positions of the bithiophene repeat unit. In this paper, the analogous regioisomeric polymer, namely pgBTTT, was synthesized by relocating the glycol side chains position on the bithiophene unit of p(g2T-TT) from the 3,3' to the 4,4' positions and compared with the original p(g2T-TT). By changing the regio-positioning of the side chains, the planarizing effects of the S-O interactions were redistributed along the backbone, and the influence on the polymer's microstructure organization was investigated using grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements. The newly designed pgBTTT exhibited lower backbone disorder, closer π-stacking, and higher scattering intensity in both the in-plane and out-of-plane GIWAXS measurements. The effect of the improved planarity of pgBTTT manifested as higher hole mobility (μ) of 3.44 ± 0.13 cm2 V-1 s-1. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was in agreement with the GIWAXS measurements and demonstrated, for the first time, that glycol side chains can also facilitate intermolecular interdigitation analogous to that of pBTTT. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation of energy (eQCM-D) measurements revealed that pgBTTT maintains a more rigid structure than p(g2T-TT) during doping, minimizing molecular packing disruption and maintaining higher hole mobility in operation mode.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rawad K Hallani
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bryan D Paulsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Anthony J Petty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Rajendar Sheelamanthula
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maximilian Moser
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Karl J Thorley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Wonil Sohn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Reem B Rashid
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Achilleas Savva
- Organic Bioelectronics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefania Moro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Joseph P Parker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Oscar Drury
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Maryam Alsufyani
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marios Neophytou
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jan Kosco
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sahika Inal
- Organic Bioelectronics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Jonathan Rivnay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Iain McCulloch
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Li M, Leenaers PJ, Li J, Wienk MM, Janssen RAJ. Polymorphism of a semi-crystalline diketopyrrolopyrrole-terthiophene polymer. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021; 59:1285-1292. [PMID: 34223180 PMCID: PMC8246555 DOI: 10.1002/pol.20200673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Few semiconducting polymers are known that possess more than one semi-crystalline structure. Guidelines for rationalizing or creating polymorphism in these materials do not exist. Two different semi-crystalline polymorphs, β 1 and β 2, and an amorphous α phase have recently been identified for alternating diketopyrrolopyrrole-quaterthiophene copolymers (PDPP4T). The polymorphs differ structurally by the π-π stacking distance, and electronically by the optical bandgap and charge carrier mobility. Here we investigate the corresponding terthiophene (PDPP3T) derivatives, to study the effect of the relative orientation of adjacent DPP units on the polymorphism. In PDPP3T, the relative orientation of DPP units alternates along the chain, while in PDPP4T it is constant. We show that the two polymorphs, β 1 and β 2, can also be generated for a PDPP3T polymer in solution and thin film. Interestingly, compared to PDPP4T, more solvents can induce the two distinct semi-crystalline polymorphs for PDPP3T via a β 1 → α → β 2 polymorphic transition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Microelectronic Devices and Integrated Technology, Institute of MicroelectronicsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenThe Netherlands
- Dutch Institute For Fundamental Energy ResearchEindhovenThe Netherlands
- School of Electronic, Electrical and Communication EngineeringUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Pieter J. Leenaers
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenThe Netherlands
| | - Junyu Li
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenThe Netherlands
| | - Martijn M. Wienk
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenThe Netherlands
| | - René A. J. Janssen
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenThe Netherlands
- Dutch Institute For Fundamental Energy ResearchEindhovenThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Li M, Wang J, Xu W, Li L, Pisula W, Janssen RA, Liu M. Noncovalent semiconducting polymer monolayers for high-performance field-effect transistors. Prog Polym Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2021.101394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
18
|
Yao ZF, Zheng YQ, Dou JH, Lu Y, Ding YF, Ding L, Wang JY, Pei J. Approaching Crystal Structure and High Electron Mobility in Conjugated Polymer Crystals. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2006794. [PMID: 33501736 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated polymers usually form crystallized and amorphous regions in the solid state simultaneously, making it difficult to accurately determine their precise microstructures. The lack of multiscale microstructures of conjugated polymers limits the fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationships in polymer-based optoelectronic devices. Here, crystals of two typical conjugated polymers based on four-fluorinated benzodifurandione-based oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (F4 BDOPV) and naphthalenediimide (NDI) motifs, respectively, are obtained by a controlled self-assembly process. The strong diffractivity of the polymer crystals brings an opportunity to determine the crystal structures by combining X-ray techniques and molecular simulations. The precise polymer packing structures are useful as initial models to evaluate the charge transport properties in the ordered and disordered phases. Compared to the spin-coated thin films, the highly oriented polymer chains in crystals endow higher mobilities with a lower hopping energy barrier. Microwire crystal transistors of F4 BDOPV- and NDI-based polymers exhibit high electron mobilities of up to 5.58 and 2.56 cm2 V-1 s-1 , respectively, which are among the highest values in polymer crystals. This work presents a simple method to obtain polymer crystals and their precise microstructures, promoting a deep understanding of molecular packing and charge transport for conjugated polymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Fan Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yu-Qing Zheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jin-Hu Dou
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yi-Fan Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Li Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jie-Yu Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jian Pei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Pan Y, Huang J, Gao D, Chen Z, Zhang W, Yu G. An insight into the role of side chains in the microstructure and carrier mobility of high-performance conjugated polymers. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py00105a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The effect of linear-chain interdigitation on device performance was studied in detail by both experimental and theoretical methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuchai Pan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
| | - Jianyao Huang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
| | - Dong Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
| | - Zhihui Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
| | - Gui Yu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences
- CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences
- Institute of Chemistry
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100190
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Yao ZF, Wang JY, Pei J. High-performance polymer field-effect transistors: from the perspective of multi-level microstructures. Chem Sci 2020; 12:1193-1205. [PMID: 34163881 PMCID: PMC8179153 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06497a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The multi-level microstructure of conjugated polymers is the most critical parameter determining the charge transport property in field-effect transistors (FETs). However, controlling the hierarchical microstructures and the structural evolution remains a significant challenge. In this perspective, we discuss the key aspects of multi-level microstructures of conjugated polymers towards high-performance FETs. We highlight the recent progress in the molecular structures, solution-state aggregation, and polymer crystal structures, representing the multi-level microstructures of conjugated polymers. By tuning polymer hierarchical microstructures, we attempt to provide several guidelines for developing high-performance polymer FETs and polymer electronics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Fan Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Jie-Yu Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Jian Pei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Xiao M, Kang B, Lee SB, Perdigão LMA, Luci A, Warr DA, Senanayak SP, Nikolka M, Statz M, Wu Y, Sadhanala A, Schott S, Carey R, Wang Q, Lee M, Kim C, Onwubiko A, Jellett C, Liao H, Yue W, Cho K, Costantini G, McCulloch I, Sirringhaus H. Anisotropy of Charge Transport in a Uniaxially Aligned Fused Electron-Deficient Polymer Processed by Solution Shear Coating. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2000063. [PMID: 32363687 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Precise control of the microstructure in organic semiconductors (OSCs) is essential for developing high-performance organic electronic devices. Here, a comprehensive charge transport characterization of two recently reported rigid-rod conjugated polymers that do not contain single bonds in the main chain is reported. It is demonstrated that the molecular design of the polymer makes it possible to achieve an extended linear backbone structure, which can be directly visualized by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The rigid structure of the polymers allows the formation of thin films with uniaxially aligned polymer chains by using a simple one-step solution-shear/bar coating technique. These aligned films show a high optical anisotropy with a dichroic ratio of up to a factor of 6. Transport measurements performed using top-gate bottom-contact field-effect transistors exhibit a high saturation electron mobility of 0.2 cm2 V-1 s-1 along the alignment direction, which is more than six times higher than the value reported in the previous work. This work demonstrates that this new class of polymers is able to achieve mobility values comparable to state-of-the-art n-type polymers and identifies an effective processing strategy for this class of rigid-rod polymer system to optimize their charge transport properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingfei Xiao
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Boseok Kang
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology and Department of Nano Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon Baek Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Luís M A Perdigão
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Alex Luci
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Daniel A Warr
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Mark Nikolka
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Martin Statz
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Yutian Wu
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Aditya Sadhanala
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Sam Schott
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Remington Carey
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Qijing Wang
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Mijung Lee
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaewon Kim
- School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Ada Onwubiko
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Cameron Jellett
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Hailiang Liao
- Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Wan Yue
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Kilwon Cho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Iain McCulloch
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- KSC, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Henning Sirringhaus
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ultra-fast charge transfer between fullerenes and a gold surface, as prepared by electrospray deposition. Chem Phys Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2020.137309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
23
|
Fratini S, Nikolka M, Salleo A, Schweicher G, Sirringhaus H. Charge transport in high-mobility conjugated polymers and molecular semiconductors. NATURE MATERIALS 2020; 19:491-502. [PMID: 32296138 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-0647-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated polymers and molecular semiconductors are emerging as a viable semiconductor technology in industries such as displays, electronics, renewable energy, sensing and healthcare. A key enabling factor has been significant scientific progress in improving their charge transport properties and carrier mobilities, which has been made possible by a better understanding of the molecular structure-property relationships and the underpinning charge transport physics. Here we aim to present a coherent review of how we understand charge transport in these high-mobility van der Waals bonded semiconductors. Specific questions of interest include estimates for intrinsic limits to the carrier mobilities that might ultimately be achievable; a discussion of the coupling between charge and structural dynamics; the importance of molecular conformations and mesoscale structural features; how the transport physics of conjugated polymers and small molecule semiconductors are related; and how the incorporation of counterions in doped films-as used, for example, in bioelectronics and thermoelectric devices-affects the electronic structure and charge transport properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Nikolka
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alberto Salleo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li JK, Shao MY, Yang ZY, Guskova O. The merging mechanisms of poly(3-hexylthiophene) domains revealed through scanning tunneling microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. POLYMER 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.122266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
25
|
Scherb S, Hinaut A, Pawlak R, Vilhena JG, Liu Y, Freund S, Liu Z, Feng X, Müllen K, Glatzel T, Narita A, Meyer E. Giant thermal expansion of a two-dimensional supramolecular network triggered by alkyl chain motion. COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS 2020; 1:8. [PMID: 32259137 PMCID: PMC7099928 DOI: 10.1038/s43246-020-0009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Thermal expansion, the response in shape, area or volume of a solid with heat, is usually large in molecular materials compared to their inorganic counterparts. Resulting from the intrinsic molecule flexibility, conformational changes or variable intermolecular interactions, the exact interplay between these mechanisms is however poorly understood down to the molecular level. Here, we investigate the structural variations of a two-dimensional supramolecular network on Au(111) consisting of shape persistent polyphenylene molecules equipped with peripheral dodecyl chains. By comparing high-resolution scanning probe microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations obtained at 5 and 300 K, we determine the thermal expansion coefficient of the assembly of 980 ± 110 × 10-6 K-1, twice larger than other molecular systems hitherto reported in the literature, and two orders of magnitude larger than conventional materials. This giant positive expansion originates from the increased mobility of the dodecyl chains with temperature that determine the intermolecular interactions and the network spacing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Scherb
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Hinaut
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rémy Pawlak
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - J. G. Vilhena
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yi Liu
- Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sara Freund
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zhao Liu
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xinliang Feng
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, TU Dresden, Mommsenstrasse 4, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Klaus Müllen
- Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thilo Glatzel
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Akimitsu Narita
- Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ernst Meyer
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
van de Laar T, Hooiveld E, Higler R, van der Scheer P, Sprakel J. Gel Trapping Enables Optical Spectroscopy of Single Solvated Conjugated Polymers in Equilibrium. ACS NANO 2019; 13:13185-13195. [PMID: 31647632 PMCID: PMC6887849 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b06164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule studies have provided a wealth of insight into the photophysics of conjugated polymers in the solid and desolvated state. Desolvating conjugated chains, e.g., by their embedding in inert solid matrices, invariably leads to chain collapse and the formation of intermolecular aggregates, which have a pronounced effect on their properties. By contrast, the luminescent properties of individual semiconducting polymers in their solvated and thermodynamic state remain largely unexplored. In this paper, we demonstrate a versatile gel trapping technique that enables the chemistry-free immobilization and interrogation of individual conjugated macromolecules, which retain a fully equilibrated conformation by contrast to conventional solid-state immobilization methods. We show how the technique can be used to record full luminescence spectra of single chains, to evaluate their time-resolved fluorescence, and to probe their photodynamics. Finally, we explore how the photophysics of different conjugated polymers is strongly affected by desolvation and chain collapse.
Collapse
|
27
|
Chen H, Wadsworth A, Ma C, Nanni A, Zhang W, Nikolka M, Luci AMT, Perdigão LMA, Thorley KJ, Cendra C, Larson B, Rumbles G, Anthopoulos TD, Salleo A, Costantini G, Sirringhaus H, McCulloch I. The Effect of Ring Expansion in Thienobenzo[ b]indacenodithiophene Polymers for Organic Field-Effect Transistors. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:18806-18813. [PMID: 31613619 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A fused donor, thienobenzo[b]indacenodithiophene (TBIDT), was designed and synthesized using a novel acid-promoted cascade ring closure strategy, and then copolymerized with a benzothiadiazole (BT) monomer. The backbone of TBIDT is an expansion of the well-known indacenodithiophene (IDT) unit and was expected to enhance the charge carrier mobility by improving backbone planarity and facilitating short contacts between polymer chains. However, the optimized field-effect transistors demonstrated an average saturation hole mobility of 0.9 cm2 V-1 s-1, lower than the performance of IDT-BT (∼1.5 cm2 V-1 s-1). Mobilities extracted from time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements were consistent with the trend in hole mobilities in organic field-effect transistor devices. Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and computational modeling illustrated that TBIDT-BT exhibits a less ordered microstructure in comparison to IDT-BT. This reveals that a regular side-chain packing density, independent of conformational isomers, is critical to avoid local free volume due to irregular packing, which can host trapping impurities. DFT calculations indicated that TBIDT-BT, despite containing a larger, planar unit, showed less stabilization of planar backbone geometries in comparison to IDT-BT. This is due to the reduced electrostatic stabilizing interactions between the peripheral thiophene of the fused core and the BT unit, resulting in a reduction of the barrier to rotation around the single bond. These insights provide a greater understanding of the general structure-property relationships required for semiconducting polymer repeat units to ensure optimal backbone planarization, as illustrated with IDT-type units, guiding the design of novel semiconducting polymers with extended fused backbones for high-performance field-effect transistors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hu Chen
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , KAUST Solar Center (KSC) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Andrew Wadsworth
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Plastic Electronics , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London SW7 2AZ , United Kingdom
| | - Chun Ma
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , KAUST Solar Center (KSC) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Alice Nanni
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , KAUST Solar Center (KSC) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Weimin Zhang
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , KAUST Solar Center (KSC) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Mark Nikolka
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory , University of Cambridge , JJ Thomson Avenue , Cambridge CB3 0HE , U.K
| | - Alexander M T Luci
- Department of Chemistry , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , U.K
| | - Luís M A Perdigão
- Department of Chemistry , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , U.K
| | - Karl J Thorley
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Plastic Electronics , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London SW7 2AZ , United Kingdom
| | - Camila Cendra
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering , Stanford University , 476 Lomita Mall , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
| | - Bryon Larson
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden , Colorado 80401 , United States
| | - Garry Rumbles
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden , Colorado 80401 , United States
| | - Thomas D Anthopoulos
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , KAUST Solar Center (KSC) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Alberto Salleo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering , Stanford University , 476 Lomita Mall , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
| | - Giovanni Costantini
- Department of Chemistry , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , U.K
| | - Henning Sirringhaus
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory , University of Cambridge , JJ Thomson Avenue , Cambridge CB3 0HE , U.K
| | - Iain McCulloch
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , KAUST Solar Center (KSC) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia.,Department of Chemistry and Centre for Plastic Electronics , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London SW7 2AZ , United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Heintges GHL, Janssen RAJ. On the homocoupling of trialkylstannyl monomers in the synthesis of diketopyrrolopyrrole polymers and its effect on the performance of polymer-fullerene photovoltaic cells. RSC Adv 2019; 9:15703-15714. [PMID: 35521400 PMCID: PMC9064343 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02670c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Homocoupling of monomers in a palladium-catalyzed copolymerization of donor-acceptor polymers affects the perfect alternating structure and may deteriorate the performance of such materials in solar cells. Here we investigate the effect of homocoupling bis(trialkylstannyl)-thiophene and -bithiophene monomers in two low band gap poly(diketopyrrolopyrrole-alt-oligothiophene) polymers by deliberately introducing extended oligothiophene defects in a controlled fashion. We find that extension of the oligothiophene by one or two thiophenes and creating defects up to at least 10% does not significantly affect the opto-electronic properties of the polymers or their photovoltaic performance as electron donor in solar cells in combination with [6,6]-phenyl C71 butytic acid methyl ester as acceptor. By using model reactions, we further demonstrate that for the optimized synthetic protocol and palladium-catalyst system the naturally occurring defect concentration in the polymers is expected to be less than 0.5%.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaël H L Heintges
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology P. O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC), Design & Synthesis of Organic Semiconductors (DSOS), Hasselt University Agoralaan 3590 Diepenbeek Belgium
| | - René A J Janssen
- Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology P. O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research De Zaale 20 5612 AJ Eindhoven The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Korolkov VV, Summerfield A, Murphy A, Amabilino DB, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Beton PH. Ultra-high resolution imaging of thin films and single strands of polythiophene using atomic force microscopy. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1537. [PMID: 30948725 PMCID: PMC6449331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09571-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-space images of polymers with sub-molecular resolution could provide valuable insights into the relationship between morphology and functionality of polymer optoelectronic devices, but their acquisition is problematic due to perceived limitations in atomic force microscopy (AFM). We show that individual thiophene units and the lattice of semicrystalline spin-coated films of polythiophenes (PTs) may be resolved using AFM under ambient conditions through the low-amplitude (≤ 1 nm) excitation of higher eigenmodes of a cantilever. PT strands are adsorbed on hexagonal boron nitride near-parallel to the surface in islands with lateral dimensions ~10 nm. On the surface of a spin-coated PT thin film, in which the thiophene groups are perpendicular to the interface, we resolve terminal CH3-groups in a square arrangement with a lattice constant 0.55 nm from which we can identify abrupt boundaries and also regions with more slowly varying disorder, which allow comparison with proposed models of PT domains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir V Korolkov
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Alex Summerfield
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Alanna Murphy
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - David B Amabilino
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Takashi Taniguchi
- National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Peter H Beton
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|