Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 6: Poster: Structural Ordering and Electronic Transport (joint focus with HL)
CPP 6.13: Poster
Monday, March 26, 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
Subsurface Mapping of Amorphous Surface Layers on different types of P3HT — •M. Zerson1, E.-C. Spitzner1, C. Riesch1, R. Lohwasser2, M. Thelakkat2, A. Sperlich3, H. Kraus3, V. Dyakonov3, and R. Magerle1 — 1Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany — 2Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany — 3Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
We study the surface structure of different types of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) using depth-resolved amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy. From a map of amplitude-phase-distance (APD) curves, the tip indentation into the soft (compliant) amorphous surface layer is measured. This spatial information serves as depth coordinate for reconstructing high resolution cross sections and 3D depth profiles of the top 10 nm of the specimen. Furthermore, the shape of the unperturbed (true) surface and the thickness of the amorphous top layer are can be determined. With this depth profiling technique we discovered that the entire surface of different types of (P3HT) is covered by an amorphous layer of P3HT. We determine the amorphous layer thickness of commercial P3HT with a wide range of molecular weight (PDI 1.97), purified commercial P3HT (PDI 1.59) and of a well-defined type of P3HT with a low polydispersity index (1.19). Its thickness is between 4 and 10 nm, depending on the type of material, sample preparation conditions and annealing. We discuss the possible impact of these amorphous surface layers on the electronic properties of the surfaces and the performance of thin-film electronic devices using these polymers.