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Research Article

X-ray microscopic investigation of molecular orientation in a hole carrier thin film for organic solar cells

Quentin Arnoux1,2,3( ), Benjamin Watts4, Sufal Swaraj5, François Rochet1,5, Ludovic Tortech2,3( )
Laboratoire de Chimie Physique Matière et Rayonnement (LCPMR)UMR 7614, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, ParisF-75005France
Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM)UMR 8232, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, ParisF-75005France
Laboratoire d'Innovation en Chimie des Surfaces et Nanosciences (LICSEN)NIMBE, UMR 3685, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-YvetteF-91191France
Paul Scherrer InstituteVilligen Psi5232Switzerland
ynchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, Gif-sur-YvetteF-91192France
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Abstract

As dipyranylidenes are excellent hole carriers, applications in organic solar cells or organic light emitting diode are envisaged. In the present study, we investigate the morphology of 2, 2′, 6, 6′-tetraphenyl-4, 4′-dipyranylidene (DIPO-Ph4) deposited under vacuum on a silicon nitride (Si3N4) substrate, a paradigmatic system for the study of molecular crystal/inorganic substrate interfaces. Samples with various coating ratios and different thermal treatments were prepared. The films were characterized by atomic force microscopy and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy to gain insight into material growth. The results show a change in orientation at a molecular level depending upon the evaporation conditions. We are now able to tailor an organic layer with a specific molecular orientation and a specific electronic behavior.

Keywords

organic solar cellsscanning transmission X-ray microscopymolecular orientationinorganic/organic interface

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Nano Research
Volume 11 Issue 5,
May 2018
Pages 2771-2782
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-017-1907-6
Cite this article:
Arnoux Q, Watts B, Swaraj S, et al. X-ray microscopic investigation of molecular orientation in a hole carrier thin film for organic solar cells. Nano Research, 2018, 11(5): 2771-2782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1907-6

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Received: 21 July 2017
Revised: 27 October 2017
Accepted: 02 November 2017
Published: 12 May 2018
© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2017
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