Phase separation and affinity between a fluorinated perylene diimide dye and an alkyl-substituted hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene
De Luca, G; Liscio, A; Melucci, M; Schnitzler, T; Pisula, W; Clark, CG, Jr; Scolaro, LM; Palermo, V; Muellen, K; Samori, P
| HERO ID | 3575554 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2010 |
| Title | Phase separation and affinity between a fluorinated perylene diimide dye and an alkyl-substituted hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene |
| Authors | De Luca, G; Liscio, A; Melucci, M; Schnitzler, T; Pisula, W; Clark, CG, Jr; Scolaro, LM; Palermo, V; Muellen, K; Samori, P |
| Journal | Journal of Materials Chemistry |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Page Numbers | 71-82 |
| Abstract | Fluorination of alkyl groups is a known strategy for hindering miscibility, thus promoting phase separation, when blends are prepared with a hydrocarbon compound. A new perylene bis(dicarboximide) derivative functionalized with branched N-perfluoroalkyl moieties (BPF-PDI) has been synthesized as electron acceptor to be potentially used in conjunction with the electron donor hexakis(dodecyl) hexabenzocoronene (HBC-C(12)) in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Aiming at controlling self-assembly between the two components at the supramolecular level, stoichiometric blends in CHCl(3) have been prepared either by spin-or drop-casting onto silicon surfaces, and further subjected to solvent vapour annealing (SVA) treatment in a CHCl(3)-saturated atmosphere. Spectroscopic investigation in solution shows the formation of supramolecular BPF-PDI-HBC-C(12) dimers, with an association constant K(ass) = (2.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) M(-1), pointing to a strong and unexpected affinity between the two species within the mixture. Characterization through optical and atomic force microscopies of the deposited samples revealed that the self-assembly behaviour of the blends on SiO(x) is remarkably different from mono-component films, thus confirming the absence of a macroscopic phase-separation between the two components featuring isolated domains of the neat acceptor or donor compound. In addition, X-ray studies provided evidence for the existence of a local-scale phase separation. These findings are of importance for organic photovoltaics, since they offer a new strategy to control the phase separation at different scales in electron acceptor-donor blends. |
| Doi | 10.1039/b915484a |
| Wosid | WOS:000272542100008 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |