Nanoprobing Structural and Electrostatic Complexity in Organic Semiconductor Thin Films

在这个项目中，国家的最先进的扫描探针显微镜（SPM）将被用来推进目前的理解，在有机半导体的结构与性能的关系。具体而言，明尼苏达大学正在开发的新SPM技术将允许多晶有机半导体薄膜中结构和静电复杂性的相关性。这些信息对于理解结构对电荷传输的影响以及确定改善塑料电子应用中有机半导体性能的策略至关重要。在人力资源方面，本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。PI还将开展推广和教育活动，包括开发新的本科实验室练习，强调SPM的材料特性，并在明尼苏达大学为当地行业代表组织和举办SPM研讨会。这些重要的外联工作将扩大该提案的影响，使其超出具体的科学成就。在该项目中，高分辨率扫描探针显微镜（SPM）将用于对所谓的“有机半导体”薄膜成像。这些材料本质上是导电的塑料，可用于制造柔性电子设备，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了解如何改善塑料电子应用的有机半导体薄膜至关重要。在人力资源方面，本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。PI还将开展推广和教育活动，包括开发新的本科生实验室练习，强调SPM的材料特性，并在明尼苏达大学为当地行业代表组织和主办SPM“实践”研讨会。这些重要的外联工作将扩大该提案的影响，使之超出具体的科学成就。

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.