Deposition of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) by Vapor Deposition and Patterning Using Self-Assembled Monolayers

Vapor phase polymerization of a conductive polymer on a $SiO_2$ surface can offer an easy and convenient means to depositing pure and conductive polymer thin films. However, the vapor phase deposition is generally associated with very poor adhesion as well as difficulty when patterning the polymer thin film onto an oxide dielectric substrate. For a significant improvement of the patternability and adhesion of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film to a $SiO_2$ surface, the substrate was pre-patterned with n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) molecules using a ${\mu}$-contact printing method. The negative patterns were then backfilled with each of three amino-functionalized silane self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APS), N-(2-aminoethyl)-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (EDA), and (3- trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (DET). The quality and electrical properties of the patterned P3HT thin films were investigated with optical and atomic force microscopy and a four-point probe. The results exhibited excellent selective deposition and significantly improved adhesion of P3HT films to a $SiO_2$ surface. In addition, the conductivity of polymeric thin films was relatively high (${\sim}13.51\;S/cm$).

Oxide 표면에 Self-Assembly Monolayers를 이용한 전도성 고분자 Poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) 증착 및 Patterning 연구