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Nanostructure of self-assembled rod-coil block copolymer films for photovoltaic applications

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • T. Heiser
  • George Adamopoulos
  • M. Brinkmann
  • U. Giovanella
  • S. Ould-Saad
  • C. Brochon
  • K. I. van de Wetering
  • G. Hadziioannou
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2006
<mark>Journal</mark>Thin Solid Films
Volume511-512
Number of pages5
Pages (from-to)219-223
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English
EventE-MRS 2005 Spring Meeting - Strasbourg, France
Duration: 31/05/2005 → …

Conference

ConferenceE-MRS 2005 Spring Meeting
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityStrasbourg
Period31/05/05 → …

Abstract

The nanostructures of a series of rod-coil block copolymers, designed for photovoltaic applications, are studied by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The copolymers are composed of a semiconducting poly-p-phenylenevinylene rod with (2'-ethyl)-hexyloxy side chains and a functionalized coil block of various length and flexibility. Both, as deposited and annealed block copolymer films were investigated. The results show that highly ordered structures are only obtained if the coil block is characterized by a glass transition temperature which is significantly lower than the melting temperature of the alkyl side chains. For this material a high molecular mobility and strong driving force for crystallization of the rigid block can be achieved simultaneously. For the smallest coil to rod length ratio, we found a lamellar morphology with perpendicularly oriented lamellae with respect to the substrate. Electron diffraction data show the presence of a periodical molecular arrangement with a characteristic distance of 0.94 nm that is attributed to the distance between conjugated chains separated by the layers of alkyl sidechains.