Understanding and Control of Interfacial Morphology at Organic and Hybrid Heterointerfaces
Abstract
Over the past sixty years, electronics have changed the way we live. In the coming decades, these materials will revolutionize the way we harvest energy as well. Recent years, semiconducting polymers have emerged as a new class of electronic and optoelectronic materials that are lightweight, flexible and can be solution printed at low cost and high throughput. Semiconducting polymers have demonstrated potential uses in a diverse range of applications from transistors, thermoelectrics, sensors, light-emitting diodes to solar cells, pointing towards a bright future for semiconducting polymers. In particular, rapid, low-cost manufacturing of portable, flexible, wearable energy conversion and electronic devices over large area is highly desired for military operations in naval environment. On the other hand, the electronic performance of semiconducting polymers cannot yet compete with conventional high-performance electronics, which greatly limit the commercial viability and military applications of this promising technology. Electronic interaction and coupling at electron donor-acceptor heterointerfaces is a critical factor determining the performance of a wide range of organic and organic-inorganic hybrid electronic devices. Despite its significance, it remains a key challenge to control electronic interactions at these heterointerfaces, largely owing to the lack of generic methods to deterministically control the molecular orientation and ordering across the interface. In this proposed work, we aim to elucidate generalizable design principles for controlling molecular orientation of semiconducting polymers at a diverse range of heterointerfaces. We propose de novo molecular designs to vary intermolecular interactions, the state of solution preaggregation and the rate of aggregation. We will quantify self- and interfacial interactions using a combination of theoretical thermodynamic modeling and experimental calorimetry measurements. We will further track the pre-aggregation state and the aggregation process using a combination of advanced ex situ and in situ structural probes. Our approach will provide unprecedented insights into the mechanism of interfacial molecular assembly which determines interfacial morphology. On the basis of these insights, the urgently needed molecular structure-processing-morphology device property relationship will be established. We will further develop an advanced additive manufacturing tool for tuning interfacial morphology and electronic coupling on the fly. Our proposed work will enable rational design approaches for controlling interfacial molecular orientation and the resulting electronic properties of advanced (opto)electronic devices.If successful, this will be the first time that the interfacial morphology and electronic coupling of a wide range of organic and hybrid electronic devices can be controlled by design. This capability will significantly advance the prospect of military applications of printed electronics. The envisioned applications range from large-area portable, rollable, wearable high-performance energy conversion devices for harvesting solar energy on demand during field operations, to imperceptible electronics for personalized soldier health monitoring and threat detection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912146
Entities
People
- Ying Diao
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign