Communication

Enhanced Nanoscale Imaging of Polymer Blends by Temperature-Controlled Selective Dissolution

Corresponding Author

Bettina Friedel

[email protected]

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Institute of Solid State Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, Graz, 8010, Austria

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.Search for more papers by this author

Bruno Ehrler,

Bruno Ehrler

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Search for more papers by this author

Sven Hüttner,

Sven Hüttner

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Search for more papers by this author

Neil C. Greenham,

Neil C. Greenham

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Search for more papers by this author

Bettina Friedel,

Corresponding Author

Bettina Friedel

[email protected]

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Institute of Solid State Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, Graz, 8010, Austria

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.Search for more papers by this author

Bruno Ehrler,

Bruno Ehrler

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Search for more papers by this author

Sven Hüttner,

Sven Hüttner

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Search for more papers by this author

Neil C. Greenham,

Neil C. Greenham

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 29 November 2011

https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201101860

Citations: 5

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Graphical Abstract

Nanoscale imaging on polymer blends is vital, especially in organic electronics. By using temperature-controlled selective dissolution, the 3D structure of a thin film becomes accessible without the expensive search for adequate orthogonal solvents. The method, which takes advantage of the temperature dependence of the solubility, is demonstrated to image P3HT:PCBM and P3HT:F8TBT photovoltaic blend films using atomic force and scanning electron microscopy.

References

1 S. Walheim, M. Böltau, J. Mlynek, G. Krausch, U. Steiner, Macromolecules 1997, 30, 4995.
10.1021/ma9619288
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
2 X. Yang, J. Loos, Macromolecules 2007, 40, 1353.
10.1021/ma0618732
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
3 C. R. McNeill, N. C. Greenham. Adv. Mater. 2009, 21, 3840.
10.1002/adma.200900783
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
4 a) J. Loos, Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, 1821;
10.1002/adma.200500701
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
b) M. Pfannmöller, H. Flügge, G. Benner, I. Wacker, C. Sommer, M. Hanselmann, S. Schmale, H. Schmidt, F. A. Hamprecht, T. Rabe, W. Kowalsky, R. R. Schröder, Nano Lett. 2011, 11, 3099.
10.1021/nl201078t
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5 X. Wang, D. Zhang, K. Braun, H. J. Egelhaaf, C. J. Brabec, A. J. Meixner, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2010, 20, 492.
10.1002/adfm.200901930
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
6 C. R. McNeill, B. Watts, L. Thomsen, W. J. Belcher, A. L. D. Kilcoyne, N. C. Greenham, P. C. Dastoor, Small 2006, 2, 1432.
10.1002/smll.200600300
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
7 L. C. Sawyer, D. T. Grubb, Polymer Microscopy, Chapman and Hall, New York, USA 1987, p. 114ff.
Google Scholar
8 a) F. A. Castro, H. Benmansour, C. F. O. Graeff, F. Nüesch, E. Tutis, R. Hany, Chem. Mater. 2006, 18, 5504;
10.1021/cm061660r
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
b) R. Q. Png, P. J. Chia, J. C. Tang, B. Liu, S. Sivaramakrishnan, M. Zhou, S. H. Khong, H. S. O. Chan, J. H. Burroughes, L. L. Chua, R. H. Friend, P. K. H. Ho, Nature Mater. 2010, 9, 152.
10.1038/nmat2594
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
9 S. Nilsson, A. Bernasik, A. Budkowski, E. Moons, Macromolecules 2007, 40, 8291.
10.1021/ma070712a
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
10 W. Y. Huang, P. T. Huang, Y. K. Han, C. C. Lee, T. L. Hsieh, M. Y. Chang, Macromolecules 2008, 41, 7485.
10.1021/ma801368z
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
11 P. G. de Gennes, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 1987, 27, 189.
10.1016/0001-8686(87)85003-0
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
12 D. K. Susarova, P. A. Troshin, Y. L. Moskvin, S. D. Babenko, V. F. Razumov, Thin Solid Films 2011, 519, 4132.
10.1016/j.tsf.2010.11.054
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
13 C. R. McNeill, J. J. M. Halls, R. Wilson, G. L. Whiting, S. Berkebile, M. G. Ramsey, R. H. Friend, N. C. Greenham, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2008, 18, 2309.
10.1002/adfm.200800182
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
14 S. Hüttner, M. Sommer, A. Chiche, G. Krausch, U. Steiner, M. Thelakkat, Soft Matter 2009, 5, 4206.
10.1039/b907147d
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
15 E. J. W. Crossland, K. Rahimi, G. Reiter, U. Steiner, S. Ludwigs, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2011, 21, 518.
10.1002/adfm.201001682
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
16 W. C. Tsoi, S. J. Spencer, L. Yang, A. M. Ballantyne, P. G. Nicholson, A. Turnbull, A G. Shard, C. E. Murphy, D. D. C. Bradley, J. Nelson, J.-S. Kim, Macromolecules 2011, 44, 2944.
10.1021/ma102841e
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume8, Issue2

January 23, 2012

Pages 237-240

Enhanced Nanoscale Imaging of Polymer Blends by Temperature-Controlled Selective Dissolution

Graphical Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Enhanced Nanoscale Imaging of Polymer Blends by Temperature-Controlled Selective Dissolution

Graphical Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information