title: Atom probe tomography analysis of poly(3-alkylthiophene)s.
abstract: Pulsed-laser atom-probe tomography is used to compare the field-evaporation mass spectrum and spatial distribution of molecular fragments from various poly(3-alkylthiophene) films deposited on sharpened aluminium specimen carriers using two different deposition methods. Films deposited via a modified solution-cast methodology yield small fragments with a uniform structural morphology whereas films deposited via an electrospray ionization methodology yield a wide range of fragments with a very non-uniform structural morphology. The main field-evaporated chemical species identified for both deposition types were, in order of typical relative abundance, C(2)H(5) (+), CH(3) (+), C(2)H(4) (+), followed by C(3)H(7,8) (+)/SC(+) and SCH(+). Thick electrospray depositions allowed investigation of the influence of laser-pulse energy on the analysis. Evidence is presented supporting the presence of a critical laser-pulse energy whereby changes in film morphology are signalled by the appearance of a new mass fragment at 190 Da.
authors.affiliation: Imago Scientific Instruments Corporation, Madison, WI 53711, USA. tprosa@imago.com
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Prosa
authors.forename: S Kostrna
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Keeney
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kelly