Preparation of polymer brushes in vacuum environment and its application to controlling interface of organic electronic devices

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25286022
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nanomaterials engineering
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: USUI Hiroaki 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60176667)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TANAKA Kuniaki 東京農工大学, 大学院工学府, 教務職員 (30251581)
• Research Collaborator: ADVINCULA C. Rigoberto Case Western Reserve University, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 有機／無機界面 / 自己組織化膜 / 界面制御 / ポリマーブラシ / 有機デバイス / 蒸着重合 / 有機発光素子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this research was to control the interface between organic thin films and inorganic substrates by covalently tethering the interface through self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) having reactive terminal units. This was achieved by growing polymer brush structures by vapor-depositing monomers on the inorganic surfaces modified with SAMs having either benzophenone, azo, or thiol terminal units. It was revealed that the covalent tethering at the interface has remarkable effects in improving adhesion strength and morphology of the organic layers. The covalent tethering was also effective in improving charge injection from the inorganic electrode to the organic layer. This result was applied for improving the luminescence efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes.

Free Research Field

有機薄膜