title: Solvent-annealing-induced self-organization of poly(3-hexylthiophene), a high-performance electrochromic material.
abstract: We have systematically studied the self-organization of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), an electrochromic material, upon control of the solvent evaporation rate. We characterized these polymer films using atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Well-ordered P3HT structures were developed after solvent annealing; these highly crystalline structures exhibited enhanced electrochromic contrast and reduced resistance within the film, leading to larger coloration efficiencies and faster switching times. The optical contrast (Delta%T), coloration efficiency, and switching time of the P3HT films increased from 54.2%, 182.6 cm(2) C(-1), and 5.3 s, respectively, prior to solvent annealing to 64.8%, 293.5 cm(2) C(-1), and 3.2 s, respectively, after application of the solvent-annealing conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 10617.
authors.forename: Jen-Hsien
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chuan-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chih-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Cheng-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lu-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rui-Ren
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kuo-Chuan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chu