Crystallization in organic semiconductor thin films: A diffuse-interface approach

Alta Fang, Mikko Haataja

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The crystallization of organic semiconductor thin films from an amorphous phase often results in a broad range of microstructures and molecular arrangements that in turn critically impact the electronic properties of the film. Here we present a diffuse-interface model of thin film crystallization that accounts for out-of-plane tilting of the kinetically favored crystalline orientation as well as the simultaneous appearance of multiple polymorphs. By adjusting the relative thermodynamic stability of grains oriented with the fast-growing axis either parallel or perpendicular to the substrate, crystallization can be made to occur in the form of either commonly observed spherulites or more complex morphologies such as sectors and centers. Furthermore, tuning the relative kinetic coefficients and free energies of multiple polymorphs can result in a spherulite of one crystal structure embedded within a spherulite of another crystal structure. A parametric study of the effects of anisotropy, densification, time-varying treatments, and substrate patterning reveals a wide variety of morphologies that are possible in these thin films, driven by a combination of kinetic and thermodynamics effects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number022407
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume89
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 18 2014
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
  • Statistics and Probability

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