Nanoprobing Structural and Electrostatic Complexity in Organic Semiconductor Thin Films

在这个项目中，将使用最先进的扫描探针显微镜(SPM)来促进对有机半导体结构-性质关系的当前理解。具体地说，明尼苏达大学正在开发的新的SPM技术将使多晶有机半导体薄膜的结构和静电复杂性相互关联。这些信息将对理解结构对电荷传输的影响以及确定在塑料电子应用中改善有机半导体性能的策略至关重要。在人力资源方面，该项目将培养有机半导体材料科学、薄膜、结构表征、电子学和扫描探针显微镜方面的研究生、本科生和博士后。PIS还将开展外展和教育活动，包括制定新的本科实验室练习，强调SPM对材料的表征，以及在明尼苏达大学为当地工业界代表组织和主办SPM讲习班。在这个项目中，高分辨率扫描探针显微镜(SPM)将被用来对所谓的“有机半导体”的胶片进行成像。这些材料基本上是导电的塑料，可以用来制造柔性电子设备，如发光二极管(LED)、晶体管和太阳能电池。新的显微镜研究将确定薄膜的电性能和薄膜结构之间的联系，长度范围从10纳米到1毫米。这种显微镜信息对于理解如何改进用于塑料电子应用的有机半导体薄膜是至关重要的。在人力资源方面，该项目将培养有机半导体材料科学、薄膜、结构表征、电子学和扫描探针显微镜方面的研究生、本科生和博士后研究员。PIS还将开展外展和教育活动，包括开发新的本科生实验室练习，强调SPM对材料的表征，以及在明尼苏达大学为当地行业代表组织和主办SPM“动手”讲习班。这些重大的外展努力将扩大该提案的影响，使其超越具体的科学成就。

In this project, state-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy (SPM) will be employed to advance current understanding of structure-property relationships in organic semiconductors. Specifically, new SPM techniques under development at the University of Minnesota will allow correlation of structural and electrostatic complexity in polycrystalline organic semiconductor films. This information will be critical for understanding the impact of structure on charge transport and for defining strategies to improve the performance of organic semiconductors in plastic electronics applications. In terms of human resources, this project will result in the training of graduate students, undergraduates, and postdocs in the materials science of organic semiconductors, thin films, structure characterization, electronics, and scanning probe microscopy. The PIs will also undertake outreach and education activities, including the development of new undergraduate laboratory exercises emphasizing materials characterization by SPM, and the organization and hosting of SPM workshops at the University of Minnesota for representatives from local industry. These significant outreach efforts will expand the impact of the proposal beyond the specific scientific accomplishments.In this project, high resolution scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) will be used to image films of so-called "organic semiconductors". These materials are essentially plastics that conduct electricity and can be used to fabricate flexible electronic devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), transistors, and solar cells. The new microscopy studies will determine the link between electrical performance of the films and film structure on lengths scales spanning 10 nanometers to 1 millimeter. This kind of microscopy information is critical to understanding how to improve the organic semiconductor films for plastic electronics applications. In terms of human resources, this project will result in the training of graduate students, undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows in the materials science of organic semiconductors, thin films, structure characterization, electronics, and scanning probe microscopy. The PIs will also undertake outreach and education activities, including the development of new undergraduate laboratory exercises emphasizing materials characterization by SPM, and the organization and hosting of SPM "hands-on" workshops at the University of Minnesota for representatives from local industry. These significant outreach efforts will expand the impact of the proposal beyond the specific scientific accomplishments.