Tuning the Vertical Phase Separation in Polyfluorene: Fullerene Blend Films by Polymer Functionalization
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2011

Achieving control over the nanomorphology of blend films of the fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester, PCBM, with light-absorbing conjugated polymers is an important challenge in the development of efficient solution-processed photovoltaics. Here, three new polyfluorene copolymers are presented, tailored for enhanced miscibility with the fullerene through the introduction of polymer segments with modified side chains, which enhance the polymer's polar character. The composition of the spincoated polymer:PCBM films is analyzed with dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (dSIMS). The dSIMS depth profiles demonstrate compositional variations perpendicular to the surface plane, as a result of vertical phase separation, directed by the substrate. These variations propagate to a higher degree through the film for the polymers with a larger fraction of modified side chains. The surface composition of the films is studied by Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS). Quantitative analysis of the NEXAFS spectra through a linear combination fit with the spectra of the pure components yields the surface composition. The resulting blend ratios reveal polymer-enrichment of the film surface for all three blends, which also becomes stronger as the polar character of the polymer increases. Comparison of the NEXAFS spectra collected with two different sampling depths shows that the vertical composition gradient builds up already in the first nanometers underneath the surface of the films. The results obtained with this new series of polymers shed light on the onset of formation of lamellar structures in thin polymer:PCBM films prepared from highly volatile solvents.

performance

spectroscopy

polymer-fullerene interaction

devices

morphology

photovoltaic

morphology

low-bandgap polyfluorene

thin-films

heterojunction solar-cells

copolymer/fullerene blends

light-emitting-diodes

absorption

solar cell

Författare

A. S. Anselmo

Karlstads universitet

Lars Johan Lindgren

Chalmers, Kemi- och bioteknik, Polymerteknologi

J. Rysz

Uniwersytet Jagiellonski w Krakowie

A. Bernasik

Akademia Gorniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanislawa Staszica w Krakowie

A. Budkowski

Uniwersytet Jagiellonski w Krakowie

Mats Andersson

Chalmers, Kemi- och bioteknik, Polymerteknologi

Krister Svensson

Karlstads universitet

J. van Stam

Karlstads universitet

E. Moons

Karlstads universitet

Chemistry of Materials

0897-4756 (ISSN) 1520-5002 (eISSN)

Vol. 23 9 2295-2302

Ämneskategorier

Kemi

DOI

10.1021/cm1021596

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2018-05-23