Structural Nanoprobes of Organic Semiconductor Devices
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Organic semiconductors are an exciting new class of material that combine the electronic properties traditionally only associated with inorganic materials, with the mechanical properties and processibility of polymers (plastics) and small organic molecules. In particular, the ability to process active semiconductor layers through solution processing has led to the commercialisation of organic light-emitting diode-based displays. Commercial potential has also been demonstrated by organic transistors and organic solar cells, where both technologies have the advantage of low-cost processing and the ability to be incorporated into flexible architectures.However, as organic semiconductors are a relatively new class of material, there are still many fundamental questions governing key processes that affect device performance. For example, organic semiconductor films are typically less ordered than their inorganic counterparts and the influence of domain structure, molecular orientation and molecular alignment on charge transport is not fully understood. Additionally, for organic solar cells, where typically two different materials are blended together to form efficient networks for charge separation and transport, the influence of material mixing on charge separation and transport are still being discovered.Since organic semiconductors have vastly different properties compared to inorganic semiconductors, the development and application of new techniques to probe the properties of this new class of material is required. This research programme will adapt state-of-the-art microscopes and utilize advanced X-ray analytical techniques to probe structure and device action in organic devices with unprecedented precision and clarity. This further understanding of device operation will allow for the identification of physical processes that limit device performance and hence promote future device optimisation.
Publications
Oosterbaan W
(2010)
Alkyl-Chain-Length-Independent Hole Mobility via Morphological Control with Poly(3-alkylthiophene) Nanofibers
in Advanced Functional Materials
Schuettfort T
(2011)
Surface and Bulk Structural Characterization of a High-Mobility Electron-Transporting Polymer
in Macromolecules
Schuettfort T
(2012)
Microstructure of polycrystalline PBTTT films: domain mapping and structure formation.
in ACS nano
Schuettfort T
(2013)
Observation of a distinct surface molecular orientation in films of a high mobility conjugated polymer.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Sciascia C
(2011)
Sub-micrometer charge modulation microscopy of a high mobility polymeric n-channel field-effect transistor.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Swaraj S
(2009)
The utility of resonant soft x-ray scattering and reflectivity for the nanoscale characterization of polymers
in The European Physical Journal Special Topics
Swaraj S
(2010)
Nanomorphology of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic thin films probed with resonant soft X-ray scattering.
in Nano letters
Vaynzof Y
(2012)
Compositional and Morphological Studies of Polythiophene/Polyflorene Blends in Inverted Architecture Hybrid Solar Cells
in Advanced Functional Materials
Watts B
(2011)
Mapping of Domain Orientation and Molecular Order in Polycrystalline Semiconducting Polymer Films with Soft X-Ray Microscopy
in Advanced Functional Materials
Watts B
(2010)
Simultaneous Surface and Bulk Imaging of Polymer Blends with X-ray Spectromicroscopy.
in Macromolecular rapid communications
Description | This EPSRC Advanced Fellowship for Dr Chris McNeill allowed him to develop a series of advanced structural probes, including synchrotron-based techniques, for characterisation of the microstructure of polymer electronics devices, particularly transistors and solar cells. Combined with device physics studies, this work has furthered our understanding of charge transport and photophysics relevant to improving device performance. |
Exploitation Route | The work will inform the optimisation of practical organic electronic devices, and provides structural probes that are of interest to researchers in other fields. |
Sectors | Electronics,Energy |
Description | The findings have assisted in the optimisation of polymer solar cells and transistors, accelerating their commercial application. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Electronics,Energy |
Impact Types | Economic |