Electron Transport Nanostructures of Conjugated Polymer Films Visualized by Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy

ACS Macro Lett. 2015 Sep 15;4(9):879-885. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00352. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

Abstract

We have successfully measured electron transport nanostructures of conjugated polymer thin films by conductive atomic force microscopy, using an air-stable electron-injecting electrode coated with ethoxylated polyethylenimine. Electron- and hole-transport networks in donor/acceptor polymer blends can be selectively observed by using an appropriately coated electrode. This approach enables us to visualize phase-separated nanostructures of donor/acceptor polymer blends for thin-film electronic devices based on their semiconducting properties.