In this work, a new condensed matter approach to the study of excitons based on crystalline thin films of the organic molecule phthalocyanine is introduced. The premise is inspired by a wealth of studies in inorganic semiconductor ternary alloys (such as AlGaN, InGaN, SiGe) where tuning compositional disorder can result in exciton localization by alloy potential fluctuations. Comprehensive absorption, luminescence, linear dichroism and electron radiative lifetime studies were performed on both pure and alloy samples of metal-free octabutoxy-phthalocyanine and transition metal octabutoxy-phthalocyanines, where the metal is Mn, Co, Ni, and Cu. Varying the ratios of the metal to metal-free phthalocyanines in all of these studies, as well as looking across a temperature range from 4 Kelvin up to room temperature is essential for quantifying the exciton wavefunction delocalization in crystalline thin films. A comparative study is performed across organic aromatic ringed molecules of different sizes in the same family: phthalocyanine, naphthalocyanine and tetra-phenyl porphyrin. In an analogy to nanocrystals and their size effects, variations in pi-conjugated ring sizes imply an altering in the number of delocalized electrons, impacting the wavefunction overlap between pi-pi orbitals along the perpendicular axis of neighboring molecules. Finally, complementary measurements that assess crystallinity of the in-house deposited thin films, including individual grain absorption, small angle x-ray scattering images, polarized microscope images and a new unique linear dichroism microscopy dual imaging/luminescence technique are also discussed.

Dispositivos baseados em eletrônica orgânica já estão presentes há vários anos no mercado com displays de OLEDs com alta definição de cores e contraste. Atualmente, essas telas são fabricadas com o uso de pequenas moléculas orgânicas depositadas por técnicas de evaporação a vácuo. A possibilidade de deposição dos materiais poliméricos em solução traz vantagens de fabricação com relação a custos e a velocidade de processamento, além de maiores escalas dimensionais. No entanto, diversos entraves técnicos ainda precisam ser superados para garantir desempenho e estabilidade de dispositivos eletrônicos e optoeletrônicos orgânicos. Neste sentido, este trabalho apresenta um equipamento de deposição roll-to-roll de proporções laboratoriais, com o intuito de servir de ponte entre o desenvolvimento acadêmico e as técnicas de produção industriais. Uma primeira versão do equipamento, já apresentado no trabalho de mestrado, foi agora modificado e atualizado com novas funcionalidades. Ele tornou-se mais completo e de operacionalidade mais eficiente, e foi utilizado para a deposição de várias camadas de dispositivos, incluindo a fabricação de eletrodos semitransparentes e da camada ativa de dispositivos luminescentes. Para solucionar as limitações do óxido de estanho e índio (principal condutor semitransparente atualmente) sobre substratos flexíveis, foi validado um eletrodo alternativo, através da síntese e aplicação de nanofios de prata e do polímero condutor PEDOT:PSS por diferentes técnicas de deposição. Também foi investigada a camada ativa de células eletroquímicas emissoras de luz (LEC), depositadas pela técnica slot-die, variando-se o polímero luminescente, de emissão azul, e o solvente utilizado. Por fim, foram fabricados dispositivos luminescentes do tipo LEC com diferentes arquiteturas e sobre diferentes substratos. O dispositivo final apresentado foi fabricado com eletrodos otimizados, depositados por spray com nanofios de prata e PEDOT:PSS, sendo os dois eletrodos semitransparentes. Com isso, obteve emissão em ambas as polaridades e em ambas as direções. / Devices based on organic electronics have been present for some years on the market with OLED displays with high color definition and contrast. Currently, these screens are manufactured using organic small molecules deposited by vacuum evaporation techniques. The possibility of deposition of polymeric materials in solution brings manufacturing advantages in terms of costs and processing speed, as well as larger dimensional scales. However, several technical barriers still need to be overcome to ensure performance and stability of organic electronic and optoelectronics devices. In this sense, this work presents roll-to-roll deposition equipment of laboratory proportions, in order to serve as a bridge between academic development and industrial production techniques. A first version of the equipment, already presented in the master\'s work, has now been modified and updated with new functionalities. It has become more complete and more operationally efficient, and has been used for the deposition of several layers of devices, including the manufacture of semitransparent electrodes and the active layer of luminescent devices. To solve the limitations of indium tin oxide (the main semitransparent conductor today) on flexible substrates, an alternative electrode was validated through the synthesis and application of silver nanowires and the PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer by different deposition techniques. It was also investigated the active layer of light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEC), deposited by the slot-die technique, varying the blue-emitting luminescent polymer and the solvent used. Finally, luminescent LEC devices were manufactured with different architectures and on different substrates. The final device presented was manufactured with optimized electrodes, deposited by spray with silver nanowires and PEDOT:PSS, the two electrodes being semi-transparent. With this, it obtained emission in both polarities and in both directions.

Dispositivos baseados em eletrônica orgânica já estão presentes há vários anos no mercado com displays de OLEDs com alta definição de cores e contraste. Atualmente, essas telas são fabricadas com o uso de pequenas moléculas orgânicas depositadas por técnicas de evaporação a vácuo. A possibilidade de deposição dos materiais poliméricos em solução traz vantagens de fabricação com relação a custos e a velocidade de processamento, além de maiores escalas dimensionais. No entanto, diversos entraves técnicos ainda precisam ser superados para garantir desempenho e estabilidade de dispositivos eletrônicos e optoeletrônicos orgânicos. Neste sentido, este trabalho apresenta um equipamento de deposição roll-to-roll de proporções laboratoriais, com o intuito de servir de ponte entre o desenvolvimento acadêmico e as técnicas de produção industriais. Uma primeira versão do equipamento, já apresentado no trabalho de mestrado, foi agora modificado e atualizado com novas funcionalidades. Ele tornou-se mais completo e de operacionalidade mais eficiente, e foi utilizado para a deposição de várias camadas de dispositivos, incluindo a fabricação de eletrodos semitransparentes e da camada ativa de dispositivos luminescentes. Para solucionar as limitações do óxido de estanho e índio (principal condutor semitransparente atualmente) sobre substratos flexíveis, foi validado um eletrodo alternativo, através da síntese e aplicação de nanofios de prata e do polímero condutor PEDOT:PSS por diferentes técnicas de deposição. Também foi investigada a camada ativa de células eletroquímicas emissoras de luz (LEC), depositadas pela técnica slot-die, variando-se o polímero luminescente, de emissão azul, e o solvente utilizado. Por fim, foram fabricados dispositivos luminescentes do tipo LEC com diferentes arquiteturas e sobre diferentes substratos. O dispositivo final apresentado foi fabricado com eletrodos otimizados, depositados por spray com nanofios de prata e PEDOT:PSS, sendo os dois eletrodos semitransparentes. Com isso, obteve emissão em ambas as polaridades e em ambas as direções. / Devices based on organic electronics have been present for some years on the market with OLED displays with high color definition and contrast. Currently, these screens are manufactured using organic small molecules deposited by vacuum evaporation techniques. The possibility of deposition of polymeric materials in solution brings manufacturing advantages in terms of costs and processing speed, as well as larger dimensional scales. However, several technical barriers still need to be overcome to ensure performance and stability of organic electronic and optoelectronics devices. In this sense, this work presents roll-to-roll deposition equipment of laboratory proportions, in order to serve as a bridge between academic development and industrial production techniques. A first version of the equipment, already presented in the master\'s work, has now been modified and updated with new functionalities. It has become more complete and more operationally efficient, and has been used for the deposition of several layers of devices, including the manufacture of semitransparent electrodes and the active layer of luminescent devices. To solve the limitations of indium tin oxide (the main semitransparent conductor today) on flexible substrates, an alternative electrode was validated through the synthesis and application of silver nanowires and the PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer by different deposition techniques. It was also investigated the active layer of light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEC), deposited by the slot-die technique, varying the blue-emitting luminescent polymer and the solvent used. Finally, luminescent LEC devices were manufactured with different architectures and on different substrates. The final device presented was manufactured with optimized electrodes, deposited by spray with silver nanowires and PEDOT:PSS, the two electrodes being semi-transparent. With this, it obtained emission in both polarities and in both directions.

Dans le cadre de la fabrication de dispositifs pour l’électronique organique à grande échelle, les besoins en matériaux conducteurs stables à l’air libre, de coût réduit et compatibles avec les techniques d’impression sont croissants. Ces matériaux sont destinés à remplacer les couches métalliques déposés par des méthodes telles que la gravure ou l’évaporation sous vide. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont pour objectif la mise au point d’une encre imprimable stable à l’air libre, composée de polyaniline dispersée en phase aqueuse. L’originalité de cette thèse est de décrire l’intégralité de ce processus, depuis la synthèse chimique de la charge, à partir du monomère jusqu’à l’intégration de l’encre conductrice dans une cellule solaire organique sous forme d’électrode imprimée, en passant par la formulation de l’encre. La première partie des travaux consacrés à la synthèse chimique de la charge a permis d’obtenir un matériau nano structuré, de taille et morphologie contrôlée, dispersable en phase aqueuse et conducteur. Cette dispersion a ensuite été formulée pour lui conférer des propriétés compatibles avec l’impression jet d’encre et lever des verrous critiques comme la granulométrie. La phase d’essai d’impression jet d’encre a permis de valider l’étape de formulation et d’optimiser la morphologie des gouttelettes éjectées. Les couches minces imprimées ont permis d’atteindre des résistances surfaciques inférieures à 1000 Ω/□. Finalement l’encre conductrice a pu être imprimée en tant qu’électrode supérieure dans des cellules solaires organiques. / Considering large-scale development and fabrication of organic electronic devices, needs for low cost conductive printable materials are growing. These materials are designed to replace thin metallic layers deposited via gravure or thermal evaporation. The objective of the work presented in this report is to obtain a conductive and inkjet printable aqueous stable dispersion of polyaniline. Originality of this PhD work is to describe all the steps from the chemical synthesis of polyaniline starting from the monomer, until the integration of the conductive ink in an organic solar cell as a conductive top electrode, through formulation of the ink to meet inkjet printing requirements. During the first part of work dedicated to chemical synthesis of PANI, we managed to produce a nanostructured and conductive material, with controlled size and morphology, which was dispersed in water. This aqueous dispersion was formulated to meet inkjet printing requirements and break technological locks such as particle size in the PANI dispersion. Formulation step was then validated during printing trials, which allowed optimising shape of ejected droplets. Printed PANI thin layers showed sheet resistance below 1000 Ω/□ after 20 printing passes. Finally, conductive ink was printed as a top electrode in fully solution–processed printed organic solar cell.

Neste trabalho foram estudadas as propriedades optoeletrônicas de dispositivos orgânicos emissores de luz (OLEDs) à base de polímeros conjugados possuindo catodos metálicos depositados por meio da técnica de deposição assistida por feixe de íons (IBAD). O principal objetivo do trabalho é produzir uma interface híbrida metal/polímero não abrupta e estudar os seus efeitos na injeção de elétrons. O uso da técnica IBAD em eletrônica orgânica é incipiente, sendo este o primeiro trabalho no Brasil aplicando-a em eletrônica orgânica. Diversos experimentos exploratórios foram feitos para adequar o uso da técnica a esta nova aplicação. Os dispositivos OLEDs possuem estrutura vertical que consiste de um anodo transparente de óxido de estanho índio (ITO) depositado sobre substrato de vidro; de uma camada transportadora de buracos de Poli (3,4-etilenodioxitiofeno): Poli (estirenosulfonato) (PEDOT:PSS) e de uma camada ativa de polifluoreno (PFO). O catodo de alumínio foi depositado sobre o PFO, utilizando a técnica IBAD, utilizando íons de argônio com energia variando de 0 a 1000eV. Simulações utilizando o código TRIM (Transport of Ions in Matter) foram feitas para avaliar a penetração do Al na camada polimérica, bem como o deslocamento atômico durante o processo IBAD. Medidas de microscopia de fluorescência, fotoluminescência (PL) e espectroscopia Raman foram utilizadas para caracterizar os efeitos dos íons sobre a camada polimérica. As propriedades da interface híbrida foram estudadas variando-se a espessura da camada ativa emissora de luz e introduzindo camadas espaçadoras de polieletrólitos inertes entre o catodo metálico e o PFO. Íons com energia maior que 400 eV produzem a diminuição das propriedades luminescentes do polímero. Por fim, as propriedades de injeção eletrônica do catodo foram estudadas através de medidas de corrente e eletroluminescência em função da voltagem. Os resultados mostraram que houve um expressivo deslocamento da voltagem de injeção (Von) para íons de argônio com energias variando entre 0 e 400 eV. As curvas de corrente versus voltagem são descritas pelo modelo Fowler- Nordheim e possuem características alteradas pelo processo IBAD. Medidas de luminescência e de corrente versus voltagem sugerem a formação de uma interface contendo nanopartículas metálicas isoladas espalhadoras de luz para energias dos íons de argônio entre 0 e 80 eV. Estas nanopartículas favorecem a injeção para campos elétricos menores. A melhora no contato entre o polímero e o catodo é observada e é consistente com a redução de caminhos preferenciais durante a injeção de elétrons, o que minimiza problemas relacionados à eficiência e durabilidade dos OLEDs. / In this work, optoelectronic properties from organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), based on conjugated polymers with metallic cathode, which were deposited by ion beam assisted deposition technique (IBAD) were studied. The main objective of this work is to produce a hybrid non abrupt metal/polymer interface and to study its effects on electron injection. The use of this technique in organic electronics is incipient, being used in Brazil for the first time. Several exploratory experiments were made, to suit this technology to this new application. The OLEDs devices have a typical vertical-architecture, using Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) covered glass substrate as transparent anode; Poly [ethylene-dioxythiophene]: Poly [styrene sulfonic acid] (PEDOT:PSS) as hole transport layer and polifluorene (PFO) as emitting layer. The cathode layer were deposited over the PFO using IBAD with aluminum and Ar ions, with energies in the range from 0 to 1000 eV. Computer simulations using TRIM code (Transport of Ions in Matter) were done to evaluate the Al penetration into the polymer and the atomic displacement during IBAD process. Fluorescence microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the effects of ions on the polymer layer. The hybrid interface properties were studied with the variation of the active layer thickness and introducing spacing layers of inert polyelectrolyte between the metallic cathode and the PFO. Ions with energy above 400eV decrease polymer electroluminescent properties. Finally, electron injection properties of the cathode were studied using Current Voltage and Electroluminescent measurements. The results show that lower Ar+ ion energies (between 0 and 400 eV) cause a significant shift on the injection voltage. The Current Voltage curves, whose characteristics are modified by IBAD, are described by Fowler Nordheim model. These measurements suggests that Ar+ ion energies between 0 and 80 eV promote the formation of an interface that contains isolated metallic nanoparticles, which may scatter the light. These nanoparticles ease the injection for lower electric fields. The enhancement of the contact between polymer and cathode is observed and is consistent with the reduction of preferred paths during electron injection, which minimizes the problems related to OLEDs efficiency and durability.

Les récents travaux sur l’intégration de polymères organiques dans des composants électroniques ont permis de développer des photodiodes rapides et sensibles, fabriquées sur des substrats souples et de grande surface. Cependant, la stabilité pose un problème majeur pour l’industrialisation de ces composants et contraint à l’utilisation d’une encapsulation coûteuse. Au cours de leur utilisation, les photodiodes sont soumises à de nombreux stress pouvant réduire leur durée de vie: la lumière (UV-visible), l’oxygène, la vapeur d’eau, la température, ou des stress électriques et mécaniques liés à leur utilisation. Ces différents facteurs tendent notamment à détériorer les matériaux qui composent l’empilement des photodiodes, induisant des dégradations de leurs performances électriques. Une compréhension précise des mécanismes physiques et chimiques mis en jeu pour chaque facteur est alors nécessaire pour pouvoir, in fine, améliorer leur stabilité. Cette thèse a pour but de mettre en évidence les mécanismes de dégradations des photodiodes en fonctionnement et s’attache à décorréler les différents facteurs de dégradation. Pour ce faire, différents vieillissements de photodiodes ont été effectués dans le noir et sous illumination dans différentes atmosphères : inerte, air sec et air ambiant. Une analyse des dégradations des figures de mérite, à l’aide notamment de simulations numériques, a permis de formuler des hypothèses permettant d’expliquer les dégradations observées. Enfin, des caractérisations électriques, matériaux et électroniques complémentaires ont pu être effectuées afin de mettre en évidence les mécanismes de dégradation suggérés par la simulation. Une augmentation de la densité de pièges dans la structure, placés à différentes profondeurs selon les vieillissements, a notamment pu être proposée. Ces pièges, induits principalement par l’oxygène, provoquent une diminution du photo-courant ainsi qu’une augmentation de l’injection et de la capacité. / Over the past few years, great improvement has been made in organic, polymer-based devices performances. Unfortunately, problems with their stabilities still persist, constraining the use of costly encapsulations. In operating conditions, photodiodes are exposed to many stresses, reducing their lifetime: light (UV-visible), water, oxygen, temperature, electrical bias or even mechanical stress. These various factors lead to the progressive deterioration of polymers used in devices that induce degradations and performances losses. Hence, unravelling the physics behind the degradation mechanisms is needed in order to improve their stability. Most importantly, it is crucial to understand the role of each factor (such as oxygen, light, water) in degrading the performances of the devices. In this work we aim to decorrelate the influence of the different ageing effects by investigating the impact of environment and light on electrical characteristics of operating photodiodes. For this purpose, different photodiodes ageing have been performed in dark, under light and in different atmospheres such as inert gas, dry air, and ambient air. Scenario could be proposed to explain the degradation based on the analysis of the device figures of merit of the device and numerical simulations. Finally, complementary electrical and chemical characterizations have been performed in order to highlight the degradation mechanisms. We show that oxygen induces traps in the bandgap of the active layer that reduces photocurrent and increases charges injection and capacitance.

Organic electronics is the study of organic materials with electronic functionality and the applications of such materials. In the 1970s, the discovery that polymers can be made electrically conductive led to an explosion within this field which has continued to grow year by year. One of the attractive features of organic electronic materials is their inherent mechanical flexibility, which has led to the development of numerous flexible electronics technologies such as organic light emitting diodes and solar cells on flexible substrates. The possibility to produce electronics on flexible substrates like plastic or paper has also had a large impact on the field of printed, electronics where inks with electronic functionality are used for large area fabrication of electronic devices using classical printing methods, such as screen printing, inkjet printing and flexography. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of cellulose in organic and printed electronics, not only as a paper substrate but also as a component in composite materials where the cellulose provides mechanical strength and favorable 3D-microstructures. Nanofibrillated cellulose is composed of cellulose fibers with high aspect-ratio and diameters in the nanometer range. Due to its remarkable mechanical strength, large area-to-volume ratio, optical transparency and solution processability it has been widely used as a scaffold or binder for electronically active materials in applications such as batteries, supercapacitors and optoelectronics. The focus of this thesis is on flexible devices based on conductive polymers and can be divided into two parts: (1) Composite materials of nanofibrillated cellulose and the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS and (2) patterning of vapor phase polymerized conductive polymers. In the first part, it is demonstrated how the combination of cellulose and conductive polymers can be used to make electronic materials of various form factors and functionality. Thick, freestanding and flexible “papers” are used to realize electrochemical devices such as transistors and supercapacitors while lightweight, porous and elastic aerogels are used for sensor applications. The second focus of the thesis is on a novel method of patterning conductive polymers produced by vapor phase polymerization using UV-light. This method is used to realize flexible electrochromic smart windows with high-resolution images and tunable optical contrast.

This thesis consists of three main studies: magnetic field effects in thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), magnetic field effects in bipolar and unipolar polythiophene (P3HT) devices and a study of hybrid organic/inorganic perovskite devices. Spin-dependent transport and recombination processes of spin-pair species have been detected by magnetic field effect (MFE) technique in carbon-based semi- conductor devices. Magneto-electroluminescence (MEL) and magneto-conductivity have been measured as a function of the applied magnetic field, B, in light emitting diodes. TADF materials have been used instead of simple fluorescent materials in OLEDs. We have observed very large magnetic response with TADF materials. The second study is magnetic field effects of regio-regular P3HT based OLED devices. P3HT is a well known semiconducting polymer, and its electrical properties such as magneto-conductance can be affected by an applied magnetic field. P3HT was chosen because it exhibits a sign change in magnetoresistance (MR) as the bias is increased. Unipolar and bipolar devices have been fabricated with different electrode materials to understand which model can be best to explain organic magnetoresistance effect, possibly depending on the operating regime of the device. Transport and luminescence spectroscopies were studied to isolate the different mechanisms and identify their fingerprints. The third study is on hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite devices. With the potential of achieving very high efficiencies and the very low production costs, perovskite solar cells have become commercially attractive. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and absorption spectrum of the films were compared in single-step solution, two-step solution and solution-assisted vapor deposition techniques. Grain size, morphology and thickness parameters of perovskite films were studied within these techniques. Perovskite solar cells were fabricated and their efficiencies were measured.

To better understand the physical and electronic properties of donor and acceptor-based structures used in organic electronic applications, a variety of oligothiophene and naphthalene diimide-based small conjugated molecules were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The materials were initially synthesized using oxidative copper-chloride coupling reactions, palladium-catalyzed amination reactions, Friedal-Crafts acylations, Negishi coupling reactions, and Stille coupling reactions. Once isolated, the physical properties of the compounds were characterized through a combination of X-ray crystal structure, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, UV-vis. absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry, along with comparison to quantum-chemical calculations. In some cases, the radical cations or radical anions were generated by chemical oxidation and analyzed by vis-NIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the electronic properties of the materials were investigated through incorporation as solution-processed active layers in organic field-effect transistors. Multiple examples exhibited hole- and / or electron-transport properties with electron mobility values of up to 1.5 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, which is among the highest yet reported for an n-channel OFET based on a solution-processed small molecule.

This thesis described the synthesis and characterization of new perylene diimide (PDI)-based photonic and electronic materials. In the first part of this thesis, PDI-based polynorbornenes, including PDI-grafted homopolymers and block-copolymers (BCPs) were synthesized and characterized as alternative acceptors for fullerenes for organic electronics. It was found that the PDIs on the polymer side-chains affect π-π stacking with the neighboring PDIs, which has implications for the use of these materials for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). It should be noted that the performance of solar cell based on these materials was poor, like other similar materials. The major reasons could be the challenge in controlling the molecular alignment of the PDI-based materials, which leads to lower electron mobilities in films compared to devices with fullerene-based acceptors. One PDI-grafted BCP showed better OPV performance compared to the other BCPs and respective homepolymer blends, presumably due to favorable morphology. In the second part of this thesis, photo-induced charge-separation in blends of poly-3-hexyl-thiophene (P3HT) and various PDI derivatives have been studied. Probing of long-lived photo-generated PDI radical anions provided insight on these photo-induced processes and their use for OPVs. In the third part of this thesis, the use of photo-generated PDI radical-anion absorption was shown to be effective for optical limiting of nanosecond laser pulses between 650 - 800 nm. In Chapter 5, an effective approach for two-photon absorption (2PA)-induced optical limiting using donor-PDI dyads through which donors and acceptors can be independently chosen to maximize optical suppression at particular wavelengths has been demonstrated. In Chapter 6, conjugated polymers with PDI pendants and poly(carbazole-alt-2,7-fluorene) main-chains were synthesized for optical limiting using the photo-generated PDI radical anion via PDI aggregate excitation and/or 2PA from the polymer backbones. It was also found that nitro-phenyl group or similar derivatives could be good candidates to incorporate into those donor-conjugated polymers, which have significant overlap between their 2PA band and respective polaron absorptions for 2PA-indced optical limiting. / Thesis advisor has approved the addition of errata to this item. Corrections were made to pages 95, 98 and 101.