Issue 2, 2020

Substrate-driven switchable molecular orientation in bulk heterojunction films identified using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

This research evaluated the substrate effects of two organic molecules, zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and coronene on a glass/Au/coronene substrate (coro sub) and coronene:C60 BHJ film on a glass/Au/ZnPc substrate (ZnPc sub). The interaction strength of the co-evaporated ZnPc:C60 bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films was measured. The molecular orientation angles of each molecule in the BHJ films were detected by in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. Coronene molecules in the coronene:C60 film on the ZnPc sub could be precisely controlled to attain a lying-down orientation owing to the strong π–π interaction between the coronene–ZnPc molecules. In contrast, the ZnPc molecules in ZnPc:C60 adopted a standing-up orientation on the coro sub owing to the weak π–π interaction between the ZnPc sub and ZnPc molecules. The present work presents an important finding which indicates that substrate-dependent molecular orientation switches may be possible for both transistor and solar cell applications.

Graphical abstract: Substrate-driven switchable molecular orientation in bulk heterojunction films identified using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Nov 2019
Accepted
17 Dec 2019
First published
17 Dec 2019

Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2020,5, 559-564

Substrate-driven switchable molecular orientation in bulk heterojunction films identified using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy

Md. Shahiduzzaman, T. Hirayama, T. Chikamatsu, T. Koganezawa, M. Nakano, T. Miyadera, M. Karakawa, K. Takahashi and T. Taima, Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2020, 5, 559 DOI: 10.1039/C9ME00165D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements