Title
3D-morphology reconstruction of nanoscale phase-separation in polymer memory blends
Author
Khikhlovskyi, V.
van Breemen, A.J.J.M.
Michels, J.J.
Janssen, R.A.J.
Gelinck, G.H.
Kemerink, M.
Publication year
2015
Abstract
In many organic electronic devices functionality is achieved by blending two or more materials, typically polymers or molecules, with distinctly different optical or electrical properties in a single film. The local scale morphology of such blends is vital for the device performance. Here, a simple approach to study the full 3D morphology of phase-separated blends, taking advantage of the possibility to selectively dissolve the different components is introduced. This method is applied in combination with AFM to investigate a blend of a semiconducting and ferroelectric polymer typically used as active layer in organic ferroelectric resistive switches. It is found that the blend consists of a ferroelectric matrix with three types of embedded semiconductor domains and a thin wetting layer at the bottom electrode. Statistical analysis of the obtained images excludes the presence of a fourth type of domains. The criteria for the applicability of the presented technique are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1231-1237.
Subject
Nano Technology
HOL - Holst
TS - Technical Sciences
Electronics
Industrial Innovation
AFM
Copolymers
Ferroelectricity
Morphology
Organic polymers
Polymer blends
Separation
Thin films
Device performance
Ferroelectric polymers
Nano-scale phase separation
Organic electronic devices
Organic memory
Resistive switches
Selective dissolution
Phase separation
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/polb.23769
TNO identifier
527755
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc.
ISSN
0887-6266
Source
Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics, 53 (17), 1231-1237
Document type
article