CAREER: Micro-structure and Electrical Properties in Thin Films of Semicrystalline Conjugated Polymers

技术支持：该项目致力于半结晶共轭聚合物薄膜的微观结构和电学性质，重点是理解结构/输运关系;微观结构包括晶粒，晶界和非晶材料。该项目将利用聚噻吩和聚噻吩并噻吩，被认为是高性能聚合物半导体。这种方法与异质外延和图形外延实现长程有序的方法相似。扫描探针技术，高分辨率同步加速器为基础的X射线衍射，并在原位热退火研究将进行沿着与分子动力学（MD）模拟的微结构演变。将进行耦合的电学和光学表征，以分离微结构的不同方面对材料性能的影响，并通过电荷传输的建模来增强实验测量。半导体的态密度将用亚带隙吸收光谱来表征。非技术性：该项目涉及具有高度技术相关性的材料科学专题领域的基础研究问题。该项目为跨学科领域的研究生和本科生培训提供了独特的机会。除了斯坦福大学的本科生，PI将积极主动地通过工程多样性计划（EDP）吸引少数民族学生到他的实验室。这项研究也将被用作一种工具，以“重新激发”当地高中科学教师参与推广计划。国际和平研究所计划在当地中学讲课，并参加教育发展方案组织的全国宣传日活动。

Technical: This project addresses the micro-structure and electrical properties in thin films of semicrystalline conjugated polymers with emphasis on understanding structure/transport relationships; the micro-structure includes crystalline grains, grain boundaries and amorphous material. The project will utilize poly(thiophenes) and poly(thieno-thiophenes), considered as high-performance polymeric semiconductors. The approach parallels that used with heteroepitaxy and graphoepitaxy to achieve long-range order. Scanning probe techniques, high resolution synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction, and in situ thermal annealing studies will be conducted along with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of micro-structure evolution. Coupled electrical and optical characterization to separate the effect of different aspects of the micro-structure on the materials' performance will be carried out, and experimental measurements will be augmented by modeling of charge transport. The density-of-states of the semiconductor will be characterized with sub-bandgap absorption spectroscopies. Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science having high technological relevance. The project provides unique opportunities for graduate and undergraduate training in an interdisciplinary field. In addition to Stanford undergraduates, the PI will work pro-actively to attract underrepresented minority students to his laboratory through an Engineering Diversity Program (EDP). The research will also be used as a vehicle to "re-excite" local high-school Science teachers participating in an outreach program. The PI plans to lecture at local high schools and participate in national outreach days organized by EDP.