Loading...
Insights into the influence of solvent polarity on the crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) spin-coated thin films via in situ grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering
Toolan, D.T.W. Isakova, A. Hodgkinson, R. Reeves-McLaren, N. Hammond, O.S. Edler, K.J. Briscoe, W.H. Arnold, T. Topham, P.D.
Toolan, D.T.W.
Isakova, A.
Hodgkinson, R.
Reeves-McLaren, N.
Hammond, O.S.
Edler, K.J.
Briscoe, W.H.
Arnold, T.
Topham, P.D.
Publication Date
2016-06-28
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
© 2016 ACS. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Peer-Reviewed
yes
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
2016-02-10
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Additional title
Abstract
Controlling polymer thin-film morphology and crystallinity is crucial for a wide range
of applications, particularly in thin-film organic electronic devices. In this work, the
crystallization behavior of a model polymer, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), during spincoating
is studied. PEO films were spun-cast from solvents possessing different
polarities (chloroform, THF and methanol) and probed via in situ grazing incidence
wide angle x-ray scattering. The crystallization behavior was found to follow the
solvent polarity order (where chloroform < THF < methanol) rather than the solubility
order (where THF > chloroform > methanol). When spun-cast from non-polar
chloroform, crystallization largely followed Avrami kinetics, resulting in the formation
of morphologies comprising large spherulites. PEO solutions cast from more polar
solvents (THF and methanol) do not form well-defined highly crystalline
morphologies and are largely amorphous with the presence of small crystalline
regions. The difference in morphological development of PEO spun-cast from polar
solvents is attributed to clustering phenomena that inhibit polymer crystallization.
This work highlights the importance of considering individual components of polymer
solubility, rather than simple total solubility, when designing processing routes for the
generation of morphologies with optimum crystallinities or morphologies.
Version
Accepted Manuscript
Citation
Toolan DTW, Isakova A, Hodgkinson R, Reeves-McLaren N, Hammond OS, Edler KJ, Briscoe WH, Arnold T, Gough T, Topham PD, and Howse JR (2016) Insights into the influence of solvent polarity on the crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) spin-coated thin films via in situ grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering. Macromolecules, 49 (12): 4579-4586.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article