title: Local structure of semicrystalline P3HT films probed by nanofocused coherent X-rays.
abstract: The hidden structural properties of semicrystalline polymer films are revealed by nanofocused X-ray scattering studies. X-ray cross-correlation analysis (XCCA) is employed to diffraction patterns from blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Spatially resolved maps of orientational distribution of crystalline domains allow us to distinguish sample regions of predominant face-on morphology, with a continuous transition to edge-on morphology. The average size of crystalline domains was determined to be of the order of 10 nm. As compared to pristine P3HT film, the P3HT/AuNPs blend is characterized by substantial ordering of crystalline domains, which can be induced by Au nanoparticles. The inhomogeneous structure of the polymer film is clearly visualized on the spatially resolved nanoscale 2D maps obtained using XCCA. Our results suggest that the observed changes of the polymer matrix within crystalline regions can be attributed to nanoconfinement in the presence of gold nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany. ivan.vartaniants@desy.de.
authors.forename: Ruslan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kurta
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grodd
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mikayelyan
authors.forename: Oleg Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Gorobtsov
authors.forename: Ivan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zaluzhnyy
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fratoddi
authors.forename: Iole
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Venditti
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sprung
authors.forename: Ivan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Vartanyants
authors.forename: Souren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grigorian