Microstructure and Optoelectronic Properties of P3HT‑b‑P4VP/PCBM Blends: Impact of PCBM on the Copolymer Self-Assembly

Block copolymers have been widely investigated over the past decades for their ability to microphase separate into well-defined nanostructured thin films with tailored physical properties. The aim of the present study is to investigate the thin film properties of rod–coil block copolymer/phenyl-C61-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecules 2013-11, Vol.46 (22), p.8824-8831
Main Authors: Gernigon, Véronique, Lévêque, Patrick, Richard, Fanny, Leclerc, Nicolas, Brochon, Cyril, Braun, Christoph H, Ludwigs, Sabine, Anokhin, Denis V, Ivanov, Dimitri A, Hadziioannou, Georges, Heiser, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Chemical Sciences
Electrical, magnetic and optical properties
Electronics
Exact sciences and technology
Organic polymers
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polymers
Properties and characterization
Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices
Transistors
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Summary:Block copolymers have been widely investigated over the past decades for their ability to microphase separate into well-defined nanostructured thin films with tailored physical properties. The aim of the present study is to investigate the thin film properties of rod–coil block copolymer/phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blends as a function of the blend weight ratio, using a copolymer which is based on a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) rod block and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) coil block. Atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction analysis are used to study the influence of PCBM on the copolymer self-assembling. UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies as well as field-effect mobility measurements are performed in order to get further insight into the blend optoelectronic properties. It is found that the block copolymer phase-separated morphology and charge carrier mobilities strongly depend on the PCBM loading and thermal annealing. In particular, the results point out that PCBM enhances the block copolymer microphase separation within a narrow range of the polymer:PCBM weight ratio. In addition, clear evidence for PCBM accumulation within the P4VP domains is found by monitoring the P3HT fluorescence and charge carrier mobilities.
ISSN:0024-9297
1520-5835
DOI:10.1021/ma4010692