BMBF Project Nanoengineering


Nanoengineering and Enhancement of Structural and Electrical Properties of Thiophene-based Thin Films

Introduction

Recent research of organic semiconductors is directed towards on highly ordered molecular structures in solid states. Especially p-conjugated polymers and oligomers have become a topic of intense research in the context of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and solar cell fabrication.

The aim of this project is in-situ study of the nanoscale ordering and organization in thin thiophene-based films. Time-resolved x-ray analysis under applied electric field allows to monitor a phase transition from solution or melt via random networking to better ordered semicrystalline phase and, simultaneously, to probe and enhance device response on the all stages of the thin film solidification. The project will be focussed on atomic-scale structural investigations, understanding of the self-organization processes for thin poly- and oligothiophene films and possible important factors influencing it: environmental conditions, strength and modulation of an external electric field.  Complementary the balance between long and short range ordering will monitored in details via grazing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXD) and small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) techniques with the major task to control nanoscale architecture, packing and crystallinity.

AIDA in action

AIDA in action: In-situ GIXD measurements at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)

We developed our IDA (In-situ Droplet Analysis) chamber for simultaneous structural and electrical in-situ measurements of solidifying polymer and oligomer materials in contact mode. AIDA (Advanced In-situ Droplet Analysis chamber), a more advanced and versatile version, allows for the application of an electrical field in contact mode as well as an additional  external electrical field (mixed mode) .

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