P3HT stripe structure with oriented nanofibrils enabled by controlled inclining evaporation

Abstract

The preparation of the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) stripe structure with oriented nanofibrils prepared by controlled inclining evaporative technique is reported. The distance of the adjacent stripes could be controlled from 40 μm to 100 μm by decreasing the inclining angle. The oriented nanofibrils in the stripes can be obtained because the P3HT lamellae diffuse directionally and form 1D crystals at the three-phase contact line of the drop. In order to get the oriented P3HT stripes, the proper solvent evaporation rate which is controlled by the inclining angle and the wettability of the substrate must be carefully chosen to match the P3HT 1D crystallization rate. It is found that large inclining angle and the hydrophilic substrate (for example: glass and PEDOT) are beneficial to get P3HT stripe structure with oriented nanofibrils.