Effect of Crystallization Kinetics on Microstructure and Charge Transport of Polythiophenes

Abstract

We have examined the effects of crystallization kinetics of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly[2,5-bis(3-hexadecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno(3,2-b)thiophene] on microstructure and charge transport. Rapid crystallization increases the density of tie molecules in polythiophenes. As a consequence, ordered regions are better connected resulting in higher charge carrier mobilities. Our results suggest that controlling the crystallization kinetics might be an important factor for maximizing the charge mobility in semicrystalline polythiophene thin films.

Keywords: charge transport; conducting polymers; crystallization; microstructure; morphology; organic field effect transistors.