Organic Semiconductor-Polymer Insulator Blends: a Morphological Study of the Guest-Host Interactions

Abstract

We suggest a link between film morphology and electrical properties of a crystalline organic semiconductor: polymer insulating blend. TIPS-Pentacene (6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene) [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123, 9482 (2001)] is formulated with various amorphous and semi-crystalline side chain aromatic low permittivity dielectric polymers. Film structure investigated by AFM microscopy and XPS gives invaluable information regarding film morphology and confirms potential intermolecular interaction. All these morphological observations were linked to the electrical characterisation of organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) and the determination of saturated hole mobility value. When an amorphous binder is used the more dilute the TIPS-pentacene the lower the saturated hole mobility value. When a semi-crystalline binder is used it is possible to massively dilute TIPS-pentacene within the polymer dielectric without loosing either the crystalline structure of the material or the electronic properties. Besides phase segregation, enrichment of the active interface in TIPS-Pentacene is demonstrated. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2009.455]