Guided self-assembly of organic semiconductors

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Organic semiconductors have left their mark on numerous applications, such as organic photovoltaics (OPV), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and organic field-effect transistors (OFET). Moreover, despite steady performance increases, controlling the crystallisation behaviour of organic semiconductors remains challenging. This project focusses on the synthesis of organic semiconductors with permanent dipole moments and to subsequently control their crystallisation using a vapour-guided deposition. This novel deposition method encourages soft matter self-assembly to gain control over material patterning, alignment and resolution. Our approach will make it possible to study the crystallisation dynamics of organic semiconductors under non-equilibrium conditions. We will also be able to control the molecule alignment using an environmentally benign, contactless method to initiate crystallisation and pattern the organic semiconductors. Besides the numerous applications in plastic electronics, the research conducted as part of this project fits well within the EPSRC remit of new materials for energy applications, while at the same time providing new insights into the processing of polymer materials, and the related fluid dynamics.