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Suppressing crystallization in solution-processed thin films of organic semiconductors

Part of: Polymers and Soft Matter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2015

Jes B. Sherman ,
Chien-Yang Chiu ,
Ryan Fagenson ,
Guang Wu ,
Craig J. Hawker  and
Michael L. Chabinyc
Jes B. Sherman
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Chien-Yang Chiu
Affiliation:
Materials Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Ryan Fagenson
Affiliation:
Materials Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Guang Wu
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Craig J. Hawker
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA Materials Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
Michael L. Chabinyc*
Affiliation:
Materials Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
*
Address all correspondence to Michael L. Chabinyc at[email protected]
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Abstract

Glassy organic semiconductors provide a convenient host for dispersing guest molecules, such as dopants or light-emitting chromophores. However, many glass-forming compounds will crystallize over time leading to changes in performance and stability in devices. Methods to stabilize amorphous molecular solids are therefore desirable. We demonstrate that solution-processable glasses can be formed from a mixture of 8,8′-biindeno[2,1-b]thiophenylene (BTP) atropisomers. While the trans isomer of methylated BTP, (E)-MeBTP crystallizes in spin-cast films, the addition of (Z)-MeBTP slows the growth of the spherulites. X-ray scattering and optical microscopy indicate that films containing 40% (Z)-MeBTP do not crystallize, even with the addition of nucleation agents and aging for several months.

Type
Polymers/Soft Matter Research Letters
Information
MRS Communications , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , September 2015 , pp. 447 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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