1
|
Manurung R, Troisi A. Screening semiconducting polymers to discover design principles for tuning charge carrier mobility. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY. C 2022; 10:14319-14333. [PMID: 36325475 PMCID: PMC9536249 DOI: 10.1039/d2tc02527b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We employ a rapid method for computing the electronic structure and orbital localization characteristics for a sample of 36 different polymer backbone structures. This relatively large sample derived from recent literature is used to identify the features of the monomer sequence that lead to greater charge delocalization and, potentially, greater charge mobility. Two characteristics contributing in equal measure to large localization length are the reduced variation of the coupling between adjacent monomers due to conformational fluctuations and the presence of just two monomers in the structural repeating units. For such polymers a greater mismatch between the HOMO orbitals of the fragments and, surprisingly, a smaller coupling between them is shown to favour greater delocalization of the orbitals. The underlying physical reasons for such observations are discussed and explicit and constructive design rules are proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rex Manurung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool Crown St Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool Crown St Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Danielsen SPO, Bridges CR, Segalman RA. Chain Stiffness of Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Polymers in Solution. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott P. O. Danielsen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Colin R. Bridges
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Mitsubishi Chemical Center for Advanced Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Rachel A. Segalman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Mitsubishi Chemical Center for Advanced Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Reisjalali M, Burgos-Mármol JJ, Manurung R, Troisi A. Local structuring of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based oligomers from molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:19693-19707. [PMID: 34525153 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03257g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The microscopic structure of high mobility semiconducting polymers is known to be essential for their performance but it cannot be easily deduced from the available experimental data. A series of short oligomers of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based materials that display high charge mobility are studied by molecular dynamics simulations to understand their local structuring at an atomic level. Different analyses are proposed to compare the ability of different oligomers to form large aggregates and their driving force. The simulations show that the tendency for this class of materials to form aggregates is driven by the interaction between DPP fragments, but this is modulated by the other conjugated fragments of the materials which affect the rigidity of the polymer and, ultimately, the size of the aggregates that are formed. The main structural features and the electronic structure of the oligomers are fairly similar above the glass transition temperature and at room temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Reisjalali
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Place, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
| | | | - Rex Manurung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Place, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Place, Liverpool, L69 7ZD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Manurung R, Li P, Troisi A. Rapid Method for Calculating the Conformationally Averaged Electronic Structure of Conjugated Polymers. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:6338-6348. [PMID: 34097424 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c02866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We developed a rapid method to calculate the average electronic structure properties of large ensembles of conjugated polymer chains sampling their conformational space. This is achieved by using the localized molecular orbital (MO) method to rapidly compute the MOs and their energies for isolated polymer chains and through using a calibration scheme to further correct the obtained energies by comparison with a few accurate calculations. The method is applied to the study of the density of states and orbital localization characteristics for five polymers. It is shown that all key properties of the individual chain related to the charge mobility can be rationalized in terms of the properties of the constituent monomers, their interaction, and the conformational flexibility of the chain. More specifically we identify the features that lead to greater charge delocalization. Finally, we discuss the prospect of using this method for a computational high-throughput screening of conjugated polymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rex Manurung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Oh S, Nikolaev A, Tagami K, Tran T, Lee D, Mukherjee S, Segalman RA, Han S, Read de Alaniz J, Chabinyc ML. Redox-Active Polymeric Ionic Liquids with Pendant N-Substituted Phenothiazine. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:5319-5326. [PMID: 33480673 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c20462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polymers that are elastic while supporting charge transport are desirable for flexible and soft electronics. Many polymers with bulky and conjugated redox-active pendant units have high glass transition temperatures (Tg) in their neutral form that will not lead to elasticity at room temperature. Their behavior in charged form in the solid state without an electrolyte has not been extensively studied. Here, the design strategy of polymeric ionic liquid where two weakly interacting ionic groups are used to maintain a low Tg is shown to lead to flexible redox active polymers. The use of a flexible ethylene backbone and redox-active phenothiazine (PTZ)-based pendant group resulted in polymers with relatively low Tg that are electrically conductive. PTZ that was N-substituted with 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl was found to promote solubility of the polymer and lower the Tg of the neutral polymer by ∼150 °C relative to that of the Tg of a variant without the N-substituent. Doping with trifluoromethanesulfonimide leads to an electrically conductive polymer without significantly increasing the Tg. Physical characterization by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and impedance spectroscopy verified that the molecular design leads to an efficient charge hopping between the PTZ groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saejin Oh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Andrei Nikolaev
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Kan Tagami
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Thi Tran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Dongwook Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Sanjoy Mukherjee
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Rachel A Segalman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Javier Read de Alaniz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Michael L Chabinyc
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cao Z, Li Z, Zhang S, Galuska L, Li T, Do C, Xia W, Hong K, Gu X. Decoupling Poly(3-alkylthiophenes)’ Backbone and Side-Chain Conformation by Selective Deuteration and Neutron Scattering. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Cao
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Zhaofan Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
| | - Song Zhang
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Luke Galuska
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Tianyu Li
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Changwoo Do
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Wenjie Xia
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
| | - Kunlun Hong
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Xiaodan Gu
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu C, Hu W, Jiang H, Liu G, Han CC, Sirringhaus H, Boué F, Wang D. Chain Conformation and Aggregation Structure Formation of a High Charge Mobility DPP-Based Donor–Acceptor Conjugated Polymer. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c01646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenxian Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hanqiu Jiang
- Spallation Neutron Source Science Centre, Dongguan 523803, China
| | - Guoming Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Charles C. Han
- CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Henning Sirringhaus
- Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - François Boué
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin, UMR 12 CEA-CNRS-UPSay,
CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Dujin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu B, Yokota K, Komoto Y, Tsutsui M, Taniguchi M. Thermally activated charge transport in carbon atom chains. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:11001-11007. [PMID: 32270842 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr01827a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Charge transport through single molecules is at the heart of molecular electronics for realizing the practical use of the rich quantum characteristics of electrode-molecule-electrode systems. Despite the extensive studies reported in the past, little experimental efforts have been focused on the electron transport mechanism at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature. In this work, we have reported the observation of the subtle interplay between electron tunneling and charge hopping in carbon chains connected to two Au electrodes at elevated temperatures. We measured the single-molecule conductance of Au-alkanedithiol-Au molecular junctions at various temperatures from 300 K to 420 K in vacuum. The temperature dependence of conductance suggested substantial roles of superexchange with inter-chain charge hopping under elevated temperatures for alkane chains longer than heptane. This finding provides a guide to design functional molecular junctions under practical conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| | - Kazumichi Yokota
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0395, Japan
| | - Yuki Komoto
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| | - Makusu Tsutsui
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| | - Masateru Taniguchi
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang Y, Hao W, Huang W, Zhao H, Zhu J, Fang W. Tuning the Ambipolar Character of Copolymers with Substituents: A Density Functional Theory Study. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:3928-3933. [PMID: 32326705 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c00678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ambipolar copolymers play a vital role in reducing the cost and simplifying the fabrication of ambipolar organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). However, the development of them lags behind that of p-type and n-type copolymers. Herein, we aim to obtain ambipolar copolymers by introducing appropriate substituents into DPP-TVT [diketopyrrolopyrrole-(E)-1,2-di(2-thienyl)ethane]. We study the effects of substituents (-NH2, -OCH3, -F, -CF3, and -CN) on backbone planarity, electronic structures, and charge carrier mobility by density functional simulations. Electronic structure analyses show that the CN-substituted DPP-TVT lies in the trap-free energy window and has the narrowest band gap, suggesting promising ambipolar character. This was further confirmed by the results of its charge carrier mobility along both intra- and interchain directions. Besides the -CN group, the -NH2 group also proved to be effective in turning DPP-TVT into the ambipolar copolymer. Our study provides insights into modulating the performances of OFETs by introducing appropriate substituents into the copolymers to achieve ambipolar character.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yishan Wang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Wei Hao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore
| | - Wanying Huang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Hu Zhao
- Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Jia Zhu
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| | - Weihai Fang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical & Computational Photochemistry of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang J, Kremer K, Michels JJ, Daoulas KC. Exploring Disordered Morphologies of Blends and Block Copolymers for Light-Emitting Diodes with Mesoscopic Simulations. Macromolecules 2020; 53:523-538. [PMID: 32655190 PMCID: PMC7343280 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Recently,
disordered blends of semiconducting and insulating polymers have been
used to prepare light-emitting diodes with increased luminous efficiency.
Because the thermodynamic stability of the disordered phase in blends
is limited, equivalent diblock copolymers (BCPs) could be an alternative.
However, the choice between disordered blends and BCPs requires understanding
structural differences and their effect on charge carrier transport.
Using a hybrid mesoscopic model, we simulate blends and equivalent
BCPs of two representative semiconducting and insulating polymers:
poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and polyacrylate.
The immiscibility is varied to mimic annealing at different temperatures.
We find stable or metastable disordered morphologies until we reach
the mean-field (MF) spinodal. Disordered morphologies are heterogeneous
because of thermal fluctuations and local segregation. Near the MF
spinodal, segregation is stronger in BCPs than in the blends, even
though the immiscibility, normalized by the MF spinodal, is the same.
We link the spatial distribution of PPV with electric conductance.
We predict that the immiscibility (temperature at which the layer
is annealed) affects electrical percolation much stronger in BCPs
than in blends. Differences in the local structure and percolation
between blends and BCPs are enhanced at a high insulator content.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianrui Zhang
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kurt Kremer
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jasper J Michels
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kostas Ch Daoulas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rudnicki PE, MacPherson Q, Balhorn L, Feng B, Qin J, Salleo A, Spakowitz AJ. Impact of Liquid-Crystalline Chain Alignment on Charge Transport in Conducting Polymers. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
12
|
Marmolejo-Valencia AF, Mata-Pinzón Z, Dominguez L, Amador-Bedolla C. Atomistic simulations of bulk heterojunctions to evaluate the structural and packing properties of new predicted donors in OPVs. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:20315-20326. [PMID: 31495832 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp04041b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Organic photovoltaic materials (OPVs), with low cost and structure flexibility, are of great interest and importance for their application in solar cell device development. However, the optimization of new OPV structures and the study of the structure arrangements and packing morphologies when materials are blended takes time and consumes raw materials, thus theoretical models could be of considerable value. In this work, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of present OPVs to understand the morphological packing of the donor-acceptor (DA) phases and DA heterojunction during evaporation and annealing processes, following inter and intramolecular properties like frontier orbitals, π-π stacking, coordination, distances, angles, and aggregation. Our considered donor molecules were selected from already proved experimental studies and also from predicted optimal compounds, designed through high throughput studies. The acceptor molecule employed in all our studied systems was PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester). Furthermore, we also analyze the influence of including different lateral aliphatic chains on the structural properties of the resulting DA packing morphologies. Our results can guide the design of new OPVs and subsequent studies applying charge transport and charge separation models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés F Marmolejo-Valencia
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, CDMX 04510, Mexico.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Miller ED, Jones ML, Jankowski E. Tying Together Multiscale Calculations for Charge Transport in P3HT: Structural Descriptors, Morphology, and Tie-Chains. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:E1358. [PMID: 30961283 PMCID: PMC6401820 DOI: 10.3390/polym10121358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluating new, promising organic molecules to make next-generation organic optoelectronic devices necessitates the evaluation of charge carrier transport performance through the semi-conducting medium. In this work, we utilize quantum chemical calculations (QCC) and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations to predict the zero-field hole mobilities of ∼100 morphologies of the benchmark polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene), with varying simulation volume, structural order, and chain-length polydispersity. Morphologies with monodisperse chains were generated previously using an optimized molecular dynamics force-field and represent a spectrum of nanostructured order. We discover that a combined consideration of backbone clustering and system-wide disorder arising from side-chain conformations are correlated with hole mobility. Furthermore, we show that strongly interconnected thiophene backbones are required for efficient charge transport. This definitively shows the role "tie-chains" play in enabling mobile charges in P3HT. By marrying QCC and KMC over multiple length- and time-scales, we demonstrate that it is now possible to routinely probe the relationship between molecular nanostructure and device performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan D Miller
- Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83705, USA.
| | - Matthew L Jones
- Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83705, USA.
| | - Eric Jankowski
- Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83705, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Snyder CR, DeLongchamp DM. Glassy phases in organic semiconductors. CURRENT OPINION IN SOLID STATE & MATERIALS SCIENCE 2018; 22:10.1016/j.cossms.2018.03.001. [PMID: 35529422 PMCID: PMC9074799 DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Organic semiconductors may be processed from fluids using graphical arts printing and patterning techniques to create complex circuitry. Because organic semiconductors are weak van der Waals solids, the creation of glassy phases during processing is quite common. Because structural disorder leads to electronic disorder, it is necessary to understand these phases to optimize and control the electronic properties of these materials. Here we review the significance of glassy phases in organic semiconductors. We examine challenges in the measurement of the glass transition temperature and the accurate classification of phases in these relatively rigid materials. Device implications of glassy phases are discussed. Processing schemes that are grounded in the principles of glass physics and sound glass transition temperature measurement will more quickly achieve desired structure and electronic characteristics, accelerating the exciting progress of organic semiconductor technology development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chad R Snyder
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Dean M DeLongchamp
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
In this paper, we present our generalized kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) framework for the simulation of organic semiconductors and electronic devices such as solar cells (OSCs) and light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Our model generalizes the geometrical representation of the multifaceted properties of the organic material by the use of a non-cubic, generalized Voronoi tessellation and a model that connects sites to polymer chains. Herewith, we obtain a realistic model for both amorphous and crystalline domains of small molecules and polymers. Furthermore, we generalize the excitonic processes and include triplet exciton dynamics, which allows an enhanced investigation of OSCs and OLEDs. We outline the developed methods of our generalized kMC framework and give two exemplary studies of electrical and optical properties inside an organic semiconductor.
Collapse
|
16
|
Gali SM, D’Avino G, Aurel P, Han G, Yi Y, Papadopoulos TA, Coropceanu V, Brédas JL, Hadziioannou G, Zannoni C, Muccioli L. Energetic fluctuations in amorphous semiconducting polymers: Impact on charge-carrier mobility. J Chem Phys 2017; 147:134904. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4996969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sai Manoj Gali
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, UMR 5255, University of Bordeaux, Talence, France
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Gabriele D’Avino
- Institut Néel, CNRS and Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Aurel
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, UMR 5255, University of Bordeaux, Talence, France
| | - Guangchao Han
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanping Yi
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Veaceslav Coropceanu
- Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Jean-Luc Brédas
- Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Georges Hadziioannou
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Claudio Zannoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari,” University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Muccioli
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, UMR 5255, University of Bordeaux, Talence, France
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari,” University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jones ML, Jankowski E. Computationally connecting organic photovoltaic performance to atomistic arrangements and bulk morphology. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2017.1296958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Jones
- Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Eric Jankowski
- Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Fornari RP, Blom PWM, Troisi A. How Many Parameters Actually Affect the Mobility of Conjugated Polymers? PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:086601. [PMID: 28282204 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.086601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
We describe charge transport along a polymer chain with a generic theoretical model depending in principle on tens of parameters, reflecting the chemistry of the material. The charge carrier states are obtained from a model Hamiltonian that incorporates different types of disorder and electronic structure (e.g., the difference between homo- and copolymer). The hopping rate between these states is described with a general rate expression, which contains the rates most used in the literature as special cases. We demonstrate that the steady state charge mobility in the limit of low charge density and low field ultimately depends on only two parameters: an effective structural disorder and an effective electron-phonon coupling, weighted by the size of the monomer. The results support the experimental observation [N. I. Craciun, J. Wildeman, and P. W. M. Blom, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 056601 (2008)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.100.056601] that the mobility in a broad range of (polymeric) semiconductors follows a universal behavior, insensitive to the chemical detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rocco P Fornari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W M Blom
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Groves C. Simulating charge transport in organic semiconductors and devices: a review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2017; 80:026502. [PMID: 27991440 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/80/2/026502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Charge transport simulation can be a valuable tool to better understand, optimise and design organic transistors (OTFTs), photovoltaics (OPVs), and light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). This review presents an overview of common charge transport and device models; namely drift-diffusion, master equation, mesoscale kinetic Monte Carlo and quantum chemical Monte Carlo, and a discussion of the relative merits of each. This is followed by a review of the application of these models as applied to charge transport in organic semiconductors and devices, highlighting in particular the insights made possible by modelling. The review concludes with an outlook for charge transport modelling in organic electronics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Groves
- Durham University, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mollinger S, Salleo A, Spakowitz AJ. Anomalous Charge Transport in Conjugated Polymers Reveals Underlying Mechanisms of Trapping and Percolation. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2016; 2:910-915. [PMID: 28058280 PMCID: PMC5200932 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.6b00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
While transport in conjugated polymers has many similarities to that in crystalline inorganic materials, several key differences reveal the unique relationship between the morphology of polymer films and the charge mobility. We develop a model that directly incorporates the molecular properties of the polymer film and correctly predicts these unique transport features. At low degree of polymerization, the increase of the mobility with the polymer chain length reveals trapping at chain ends, and saturation of the mobility at high degree of polymerization results from conformational traps within the chains. Similarly, the inverse field dependence of the mobility reveals that transport on single polymer chains is characterized by the ability of the charge to navigate around kinks and loops in the chain. These insights emphasize the connection between the polymer conformations and the transport and thereby offer a route to designing improved device morphologies through molecular design and materials processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonya
A. Mollinger
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Alberto Salleo
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Andrew J. Spakowitz
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Biophysics
Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Patel SN, Chabinyc ML. Anisotropies and the thermoelectric properties of semiconducting polymers. J Appl Polym Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/app.44403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shrayesh N. Patel
- Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department; University of California; Santa Barbara California 93106-5050
| | - Michael L. Chabinyc
- Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department; University of California; Santa Barbara California 93106-5050
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Mendels D, Tessler N. A Comprehensive study of the Effects of Chain Morphology on the Transport Properties of Amorphous Polymer Films. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29092. [PMID: 27405103 PMCID: PMC4941411 DOI: 10.1038/srep29092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic semiconductors constitute one of the main components underlying present-day paradigm shifting optoelectronic applications. Among them, polymer based semiconductors are deemed particularly favorable due to their natural compatibility with low-cost device fabrication techniques. In light of recent advances in the syntheses of these classes of materials, yielding systems exhibiting charge mobilities comparable with those found in organic crystals, a comprehensive study of their charge transport properties is presented. Among a plethora of effects arising from these systems morphological and non morphological attributes, it is shown that a favorable presence of several of these attributes, including that of rapid on-chain carrier propagation and the presence of elongated conjugation segments, can lead to an enhancement of the system's mobility by more than 5 orders of magnitude with respect to 'standard' amorphous organic semiconductors. New insight for the formulation of new engineering strategies for next generation polymer based semiconductors is thus gathered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Mendels
- The Sarah and Moshe Zisapel nanoelectronic center, Electrical Engineering Dept., Technion Israel institute of technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Nir Tessler
- The Sarah and Moshe Zisapel nanoelectronic center, Electrical Engineering Dept., Technion Israel institute of technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Mollinger SA, Krajina BA, Noriega R, Salleo A, Spakowitz AJ. Percolation, Tie-Molecules, and the Microstructural Determinants of Charge Transport in Semicrystalline Conjugated Polymers. ACS Macro Lett 2015; 4:708-712. [PMID: 35596492 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Semiconducting polymers play an important role in a wide range of optical and electronic material applications. It is widely accepted that the polymer ordering impacts charge transport in such devices. However, the connection between molecular ordering and device performance is difficult to predict due to the current need for a mathematical theory of the physics that dictate charge transport in semiconducting polymers. We present an analytical and computational description of semicrystalline conjugated polymer materials that captures the impact of polymer conformation on charge transport in heterogeneous thin films. We first develop an analytical theory for the statistical behavior of a polymer chain emanating from a crystallite, predicting the average distance to the first kink that would trap a charge. This analysis is used to define the conditions where percolation would lead to efficient transport through a semicrystalline material. We then establish a model that predicts the multiscale charge transport. This model is used to identify the speed limits of charge transport at short and long time scales for varying fraction of crystallinity. This work provides a rational framework to connect molecular organization to device performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rodrigo Noriega
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Jackson NE, Kohlstedt KL, Savoie BM, Olvera de la Cruz M, Schatz GC, Chen LX, Ratner MA. Conformational Order in Aggregates of Conjugated Polymers. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:6254-62. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E. Jackson
- Department
of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Kevin L. Kohlstedt
- Department
of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Brett M. Savoie
- Department
of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | | | - George C. Schatz
- Department
of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Lin X. Chen
- Department
of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Chemical
Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Mark A. Ratner
- Department
of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Jackson NE, Savoie BM, Marks TJ, Chen LX, Ratner MA. The Next Breakthrough for Organic Photovoltaics? J Phys Chem Lett 2015; 6:77-84. [PMID: 26263095 DOI: 10.1021/jz502223t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
While the intense focus on energy level tuning in organic photovoltaic materials has afforded large gains in device performance, we argue here that strategies based on microstructural/morphological control are at least as promising in any rational design strategy. In this work, a meta-analysis of ∼150 bulk heterojunction devices fabricated with different materials combinations is performed and reveals strong correlations between power conversion efficiency and morphology-dominated properties (short-circuit current, fill factor) and surprisingly weak correlations between efficiency and energy level positioning (open-circuit voltage, enthalpic offset at the interface, optical gap). While energy level positioning should in principle provide the theoretical maximum efficiency, the optimization landscape that must be navigated to reach this maximum is unforgiving. Thus, research aimed at developing understanding-based strategies for more efficient optimization of an active layer microstructure and morphology are likely to be at least as fruitful.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Brett M Savoie
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Tobin J Marks
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Lin X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Mark A Ratner
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Fazzi D, Caironi M. Multi-length-scale relationships between the polymer molecular structure and charge transport: the case of poly-naphthalene diimide bithiophene. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:8573-90. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp00523j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Charge transport in organic polymer semiconductors is a complex phenomenon affected by structural and electronic properties ranging over different length scales, from the molecular one up to the macro-scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Fazzi
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (MPI-KOFO)
- 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr
- Germany
| | - Mario Caironi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 20133 Milano
- Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Fornari RP, Troisi A. Narrower bands with better charge transport: the counterintuitive behavior of semiconducting copolymers. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2014; 26:7627-31. [PMID: 25327499 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201402941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The narrower bands formed by donor-acceptor polymers are not detrimental to transport, as the reduced electronic coupling along the chain is more than compensated by a reduced activation energy for transport. These polymers are less sensitive to the conformational disorder of the chain as long as the bandwidth is larger than a threshold.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rocco P Fornari
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Scientific Computing, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|