Semiconducting Polymer Spherulites-From Fundamentals to Polymer Electronics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Organic Electronics

Background:

• Semicrystalline polymer morphology significantly impacts electronic device performance.
• Spherulites are ordered superstructures in polymers offering anisotropic properties.
• Semiconducting polymers require controlled morphology for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of classical crystallization theory and spherulites.
• To present strategies for growing spherulites in semiconducting polymers.
• To demonstrate the application of spherulitic thin films in organic electronics.

Main Methods:

• Review of classical melt crystallization techniques.
• Application of solvent vapor annealing for spherulite growth.
• Morphological characterization of resulting polymers.
• Fabrication and testing of organic electronic devices.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of various spherulite growth strategies for semiconducting polymers.
• Examples of polymer morphologies achieved through different methods.
• Successful application of spherulitic thin films in field-effect transistors.
• Evidence of anisotropic conductivity and mobility in spherulitic films.

Conclusions:

• Controlled spherulite formation is achievable in semiconducting polymers.
• Spherulitic morphology enables anisotropic electronic properties.
• These materials hold significant potential for organic electronic applications, particularly field-effect transistors.