Abstract
Disordered nanoporous silver (NPAg) thin films fabricated by a thermally assisted dewetting method are employed as a platform to influence chain alignment, morphology, and optical properties of three well-known conjugated polymers. Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements show that the porous structure of the metal induces close π-π stacking of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) chains and extended, planar chain conformations of poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) and poly[(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-(benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazol-4,8-diyl)] (F8BT). A greater degree of vertically-oriented P3HT chains are found on NPAg compared with planar Ag. However, PFO and F8BT chain alignment is only affected when pore size is large. The optical properties of NPAg films are investigated by transmission and back-scattering spectroscopies. Strong back-scattering is observed for all NPAg morphologies, especially for NPAg with small pore sizes. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of conjugated polymer layers on NPAg showed pronounced emission enhancements (up to factors of 26) relative to layers on glass. The enhancements are attributed primarily to: 1) redistribution of conjugated polymer emission by Ag; 2) redirection of emission by polymer-filled nanopores; and 3) local electromagnetic field effects. This work demonstrates the potential of NPAg-thin films to influence molecular chain morphology and to improve light-extraction in organic optoelectronic devices. Nanoporous metal films are multifunctional platforms that affect both the morphology and emission properties of conjugated polymer layer coatings. Nanoporous silver can reorient and/or planarize a fraction of conjugated polymer molecules in the pores. Photoluminescence emission enhancements of up to 26 are possible from conjugated polymer layers using nanoporous silver instead of bare glass substrates.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3302-3313 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Advanced Functional Materials |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 1 2015 |
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Keywords
- enhanced photoluminescence
- grazing incidence X-ray scattering
- nanostructures
- polymer chain alignment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Biomaterials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electrochemistry
Cite this
Nanoporous silver thin films : Multifunctional platforms for influencing chain morphology and optical properties of conjugated polymers. / Shen, Zeqing; O'Carroll, Deirdre M.
In: Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 25, No. 22, 01.06.2015, p. 3302-3313.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nanoporous silver thin films
T2 - Multifunctional platforms for influencing chain morphology and optical properties of conjugated polymers
AU - Shen, Zeqing
AU - O'Carroll, Deirdre M
PY - 2015/6/1
Y1 - 2015/6/1
N2 - Disordered nanoporous silver (NPAg) thin films fabricated by a thermally assisted dewetting method are employed as a platform to influence chain alignment, morphology, and optical properties of three well-known conjugated polymers. Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements show that the porous structure of the metal induces close π-π stacking of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) chains and extended, planar chain conformations of poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) and poly[(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-(benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazol-4,8-diyl)] (F8BT). A greater degree of vertically-oriented P3HT chains are found on NPAg compared with planar Ag. However, PFO and F8BT chain alignment is only affected when pore size is large. The optical properties of NPAg films are investigated by transmission and back-scattering spectroscopies. Strong back-scattering is observed for all NPAg morphologies, especially for NPAg with small pore sizes. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of conjugated polymer layers on NPAg showed pronounced emission enhancements (up to factors of 26) relative to layers on glass. The enhancements are attributed primarily to: 1) redistribution of conjugated polymer emission by Ag; 2) redirection of emission by polymer-filled nanopores; and 3) local electromagnetic field effects. This work demonstrates the potential of NPAg-thin films to influence molecular chain morphology and to improve light-extraction in organic optoelectronic devices. Nanoporous metal films are multifunctional platforms that affect both the morphology and emission properties of conjugated polymer layer coatings. Nanoporous silver can reorient and/or planarize a fraction of conjugated polymer molecules in the pores. Photoluminescence emission enhancements of up to 26 are possible from conjugated polymer layers using nanoporous silver instead of bare glass substrates.
AB - Disordered nanoporous silver (NPAg) thin films fabricated by a thermally assisted dewetting method are employed as a platform to influence chain alignment, morphology, and optical properties of three well-known conjugated polymers. Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements show that the porous structure of the metal induces close π-π stacking of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) chains and extended, planar chain conformations of poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) and poly[(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-(benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazol-4,8-diyl)] (F8BT). A greater degree of vertically-oriented P3HT chains are found on NPAg compared with planar Ag. However, PFO and F8BT chain alignment is only affected when pore size is large. The optical properties of NPAg films are investigated by transmission and back-scattering spectroscopies. Strong back-scattering is observed for all NPAg morphologies, especially for NPAg with small pore sizes. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of conjugated polymer layers on NPAg showed pronounced emission enhancements (up to factors of 26) relative to layers on glass. The enhancements are attributed primarily to: 1) redistribution of conjugated polymer emission by Ag; 2) redirection of emission by polymer-filled nanopores; and 3) local electromagnetic field effects. This work demonstrates the potential of NPAg-thin films to influence molecular chain morphology and to improve light-extraction in organic optoelectronic devices. Nanoporous metal films are multifunctional platforms that affect both the morphology and emission properties of conjugated polymer layer coatings. Nanoporous silver can reorient and/or planarize a fraction of conjugated polymer molecules in the pores. Photoluminescence emission enhancements of up to 26 are possible from conjugated polymer layers using nanoporous silver instead of bare glass substrates.
KW - enhanced photoluminescence
KW - grazing incidence X-ray scattering
KW - nanostructures
KW - polymer chain alignment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85027955082&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1002/adfm.201500456
DO - 10.1002/adfm.201500456
M3 - Article
VL - 25
SP - 3302
EP - 3313
JO - Advanced Functional Materials
JF - Advanced Functional Materials
SN - 1616-301X
IS - 22
ER -