Nanoscale quantitative chemical mapping of conjugated polymer blends

Nano Lett. 2006 Jun;6(6):1202-6. doi: 10.1021/nl060583w.

Abstract

Utilizing scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), we present a quantitative chemical analysis of the bulk composition of spin-coated blends of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-N-(4-butylphenyl)diphenylamine) (TFB) and poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) used in efficient polymer light emitting diodes. With a lateral resolution of 50 nm, we reveal nanoscale subsurface chemical structure and show that in particular while blend composition remains constant within the TFB-rich domain, in the F8BT-rich phase there is an enrichment of F8BT at the domain interface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission / methods*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Phase Transition
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Solutions