Modification of various surfaces with functionalized polymer thin films remains an area of intense research as it renders exceptional properties to the surface which are required in fabrication of particular thin-films devices. Specifically, semiconducting polymer thin films are the basis for electro-optical applications such as electroluminescent devices, photovoltaic cells, and high-density optical data storage devices. Recent developments in surface-initiated living polymerization enabled preparation of covalently attached semiconducting polymer thin films on the surface. However, many chemical reactions used in surface-initiated polymerization have major drawbacks, such as low efficiency in growing polymer on the surfaces, as well as complex and inconvenient preparation of surface-immobilized initiators. Here, we present a method to carry out surface-initiated controlled polymerization with improved efficiency and high degree of control. Moreover, this method can provide an easy and efficient route to prepare different type of copolymers (block and alternating copolymers) to obtain semiconducting polymer thin films with desired properties. Details on chemistry of the polymerization process, as well as studies of morphological, electronic, and optical properties of the polymer films will be reported in this presentation.

Controlling properties of semiconducting polymers thin-films via surface-initiated in situ polymerization

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.