Mixtures comprised of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymers and  [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), have shown excellent promise as an organic photovoltaic material.  There is currently extensive research to improve our understanding of the dependence of the photon conversion efficiency (PCE) of these mixtures on their morphology.  As films of these mixtures are usually prepared by solution methods, the PCE of these materials is greatly affected by the phase domains formed in solution.  This study focuses specifically on the gel formation in P3HT solutions with solvents such as o-dichlorobenzene. The observation of the onset of gelation is carried out by heating solutions of P3HT to 80�C and monitoring, during cooling, the flow of the solution and its ability to support a small spherical weight.  A cloud point analysis is then employed to monitor the onset of structure during the initial stages of gelation.  Light scattering methods enable the characterization of the domain morphology and the scale of anisotropy as gel structures form.

Thermoreversible gelation of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) in o-dichlorobenzene

247th National Meeting (2014)

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