1. Charge motion in Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)
studied with Scanning Probe Microscopy
Jason Moscatello, Chloe Castaneda, Katherine Aidala
APS March Meeting
Session L41: Focus Session: Organic Electronics and Photonics - Transport in Polymer Thin Films
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 9:12AM
2. Organic potential
Organic electronics can be used in many applications we cannot use traditional
silicon architectures.
For example: Large-area, low-cost electronics
Printed electronics
Flexible electronics
Transparent electronics
Image Source: Techradar.com ImageSource: National Research Council Canada
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
3. Why SPM?
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Image Source: Agilent
Organics are an inherently disordered system
with many local effects such as:
• Trap states
• Contact resistance
• Carrier density dependent mobility
• Environment environment/interface
SPM techniques are capable of measuring local
effects.
Allows us to focus on electrical interactions in
order to follow charges.
4. Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM)
• a local surface potential measurement
• measured relative to tip potential
Measuring Potentials
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
6. Measuring Potentials
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
-1 V
3 V
-1 V
-1 V
Vtip = Vsample
0
Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM)
• a local surface potential measurement
• measured relative to tip potential
minimize oscillation
Force at resonant
frequency, ωac
7. KPFM in Space and Time
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Pass 1:
Topography
40
35
30
25
20
µm
403020100
µm
-40
-20
0
20
40
nm
40
35
30
25
20
µm
403020100
µm
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
V
Pass 2:
KPFM
1. Topography
2. KPFMImage Source: Asylum Research
Device On
v
Au AuP3HT
Au AuP3HT
2
1
8. jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Potential
Time
?
v = 0
Event
Pass 1:
Topography
40
35
30
25
20
µm
403020100
µm
-40
-20
0
20
40
nm
40
35
30
25
20
µm
403020100
µm
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
V
Pass 2:
KPFM
1. Topography
2. KPFMImage Source: Asylum Research
v
2
1
KPFM in Space and Time
Device On
Au AuP3HT
Au AuP3HT
9. P3HT Organic Field Effect Transistor (OFET)
P3HT ≥96% RR
>32k MW
D S
G (n-type Si, .01 Ω-cm)
200 nm thermally
grown SiO2
Au
poly(3-hexylthiophene)
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
10. Real Time Screening - Controls
• No P3HT
• Tip above metal electrode
• Gate turned on and off
D S
G
Tip
Expect to see 0V above the Au, because the electrons
move too quickly to resolve, screening the back-gate.
grounded
Apply -7V
grounded
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
11. Real Time Screening - Controls
• No P3HT
• Tip above metal electrode
• Gate turned on and off Tip
No change in measured potential
Apply -7V
D S
G
Expect to see 0V above the Au, because the electrons
move too quickly to resolve, screening the back-gate.
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
12. Real Time Screening - Controls
• No P3HT
• Tip above bare dielectric
• Gate turned on and off
D S
G
What happens for the same sequence, but above the
dielectric?
Tip
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
13. Real Time Screening - Controls
• No P3HT
• Tip above bare dielectric
• Gate turned on and off
D S
G
What happens for the same sequence, but above the
dielectric?
Tip
t = 3 ms
Cannot
screen
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
14. Real Time Screening – P3HT
D S
G
What will KPFM measure when the tip is above a poor conductor, which is
connected to grounded metal electrodes?
Tip
Can you record the screening as the carriers move
through the film?
P3HT
Au
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
15. For a material with holes as the majority carrier:
Real Time Screening – P3HT
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
16. Negative gate
Initial negative potential
Then holes rush in to screen
For a material with holes as the majority carrier:
Real Time Screening – P3HT
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
17. Vg = 0
Initial surplus of holes
Positive potential
Holes leave the film
For a material with holes as the majority carrier:
Real Time Screening – P3HT
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Negative gate
Initial negative potential
Then holes rush in to screen
18. Vg = 0
Initial surplus of holes
Positive potential
Holes leave the film
For a material with holes as the majority carrier:
Real Time Screening – P3HT
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Negative gate
Initial negative potential
Then holes rush in to screen
19. Vg = 0
Initial surplus of holes
Positive potential
Holes leave the film
Positive gate
Initial positive potential
Holes leave film to screen
For a material with holes as the majority carrier:
Real Time Screening – P3HT
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Negative gate
Initial negative potential
Then holes rush in to screen
20. Vg = 0
Initial surplus of holes
Positive potential
Holes leave the film
Positive gate
Initial positive potential
Holes leave film to screen
Too few holes
Negative potential
Holes rush in
Vg = 0
For a material with holes as the majority carrier:
Real Time Screening – P3HT
Negative gate
Initial negative potential
Then holes rush in to screen
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
22. Real Time Screening – PDI-CN2
electrons
Vgs > 0
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Initial positive potential
then electrons rush in to screen
Electron surplus leads to
Initial negative potential
Electrons leave the film
PDI-CN2
23. Real Time Screening – PDI-CN2
electrons
Vgs > 0
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Initial positive potential
then electrons rush in to screen
Electron surplus leads to
Initial negative potential
Electrons leave the film
PDI-CN2
24. Real Time Screening – PDI-CN2
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
holes
Vgs < 0
electrons
Vgs > 0
PDI-CN2
P3HT
26. Real Time Screening – PDI-CN2
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Initial negative potential
Electrons leave film to screen
Too few electrons
Positive potential
Electrons rush in
electrons
Vgs < 0
PDI-CN2
27. Real Time Screening – PDI-CN2
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
holes
Vgs > 0
P3HT
electrons
Vgs < 0
PDI-CN2
29. Ongoing & Future Studies
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
The affect of bias stress in N2 environment on P3HT OFETs.
How does it change in ambient with or without stress? a
30. Ongoing & Future Studies
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Other materials, such as PbS
quantum dots.
With Scott Geyer, Moungi Bawendi, and
Vladimir Bulovic (MIT).
P3HT
31. jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Ongoing & Future Studies
How does tip distance affect measurement?
Can we distinguish between contact-limited and bulk-limited transport?
VGS = 0V VGS = -6V VGS = 0V
outward
outward
32. Thank You
NSF CAREER Award DMR-0955348
Thank you!
jmoscate@mtholyoke.edu
Chloe Castaneda
Katherine Aidala