Nanoimprint lithography for organic electronics
Thin films made of organic semiconductors (α-sexithiophene, PDAS and PBAS) have been printed and the impact on morphology studied by optical, atomic force and electron microscopy. Surfaces in contact with the stamp during printing undergo a change towards smoother and more ordered material at the macromolecular scale. Interdigitated nanoelectrodes to be used as source and drain in TFTs have been made and printed down to 100 nm. PDAS and PBAS can be printed at room temperature and preserve their printed feature provided they are cross-linked afterwards.
Block Copolymers Build-up of Electron and Hole Transport Materials
In this article we describe the synthesis of various monomers modified with triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine side groups as electron transport moieties. By nitroxide-mediated polymerization with a TEMPO unimer it was possible to obtain polymers with a narrow polydispersity. Furthermore, by living radical polymerization block copolymers were obtained from these monomers. Therefore, microphase separated structures are accessible which possess hole conducting moieties in one phase and electron conducting moieties in the other phase.
Reversible Modulation of Elasticity in Fluoroazobenzene-Containing Hydrogels Using Green and Blue Light.
Hydrogels are soft materials that have found multiple applications in biomedicine and represent a good platform for the introduction of molecular switches and synthetic machines into macromolecular networks. Tuning their mechanical properties reversibly with light is appealing for a variety of advanced applications and has been demonstrated in the past; however, their activation typically requires the use of UV light, which displays several drawbacks related to its damaging character and limited penetration in tissues and materials. This study circumvents this limitation by introducing all-visible ortho-fluoroazobenzene switches into a hydrophilic network, which, as a result, can be activat…
Towards Plastic Electronics: Patterning Semiconducting Polymers by Nanoimprint Lithography
The direct patterning of functional semiconducting polymers (see Figure) has been achieved with a nanoimprint lithography technique. The room‐temperature process described is time‐saving as repeated temperature cycling is not required. In addition, due to the direct patterning approach the need for further processing steps (plasma treatment) to pattern the underlying semiconducting material is eliminated.
Light-induced demixing of hole or electron transporting moieties
This paper describes the synthesis of two tri-phenylamine monomers (hole conducting) and one triazine monomer (electron conducting) which differ in their copolymerization parameters because of their styrene and vinyl ester nature. A blend of triphenylamine monomer and poly-(ethylene glycol) and mixtures of both types of monomers (triphepylamine and triazine) were illuminated through a line mask, creating laterally modulated radicals, thus leading to lateral demixing. The experiments with mixtures of triphenylamine and triazine monomers show that the concentration of p- or n-type polymers can be modulated laterally in a controlled way.
Tailored Semiconducting Polymers: Living Radical Polymerization and NLO-Functionalization of Triphenylamines
This paper describes the preparation of various polymers with triarylamine side groups. High molecular weight materials were obtained by free radical polymerization utilizing the gel effect. Polymers with a marrow polydispersity and a predetermined molecular weight could be prepared by living radical polymerization. The T g could, thereby, be controlled between 50 and 140°C either by using different monomers or by varying the molecular weight. Living radical polymerization allowed in addition the preparation of block copolymers. The triarylamine side groups could be transformed into NLO-chromophores by reaction with tetracyanoethylene. This leads to the incorporation of tricyanoethylene. Th…