The present thesis is focused on rational design and synthesis of π-conjugated donor-acceptor (D-A) type oligomers and polymers. It is organized in six different chapters and a brief discussion on the content of the individual chapter is provided below. Chapter 1 briefly describes the charge transport properties of organic semiconductors followed by recent development of different organic semiconducting materials mainly for applications in OFET and solar cells have been highlighted. Chapter 2 explores the synthesis and characterization of two new liquid crystalline, D-A type bithiophene-benzothiazole derivatives. The liquid crystalline properties of the materials have been studied in detail with optical polarizing microscopic images and differential scanning calorimetry and found that these materials possess highly ordered smectic A liquid crystalline phase. Their charge transport properties have also been investigated by fabricating OFET devices. Chapter 3 describes the photophysical properties and OFET performance of quinoxaline based donors-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) type molecules. Depending on the flexibility and rigidity of the conjugated backbone these materials show liquid crystalline behaviour. Investigation of their OFET performance indicated that these molecules exhibit p-type mobility up to 9.7 x 10-4 cm2V-1s-1 and on/ off ratio of 104. Chapter 4 investigates excited state properties and OFET behavior of D-A-D type diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) derivatives end-capped with alkoxynaphthalene group. UV-Visible spectroscopy measurement shows strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) between donor and acceptor unit. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements confirm the formation of excimer. The excited state interactions, the interchromophore separation and geometry of the molecules influence the extent of excimer formation. Finally, the OFET behavior of these DPP based materials has been studied using different dielectric layers. Chapter 5 discusses the synthesis, characterization and properties of two new thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-DPP based donor-acceptor (D-A) type low band gap polymers (PTTDPP-BDT and PTTDPP-BZT). Investigation of OFET performance indicated that polymers exhibited ambipolar behaviour with hole mobility upto 1.0 x 10-3 cm2/Vs and electron mobility upto 8 x 10-5 cm2/Vs. Using polymer PTTDPP-BDT with electron acceptor C70PCBM, power conversion efficiency (PCE) around 3.26% in bulk heterojunction solar cell has been achieved. Chapter 6 describes the approach to tailor the energy levels of conjugated polymers (PTDPP-IDT and PTTDPP-IDT) based on Indacenodithiophene (IDT) coupled with DPP moieties. We have studied the photovoltaic performance of these conjugated polymers by blending with PCBM and P3HT. The importance of these materials in polymer/polymer blend solar cell has been emphasized. The photovoltaic devices with polymer/polymer blend solar cell exhibit high open-circuit voltages (VOC) of ~ 0.8 V. In summary, the work presented in this thesis describes synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of new organic semiconductors and their importance in optoelectronic devices. This work also describes a general design principle of nonfullerene organic solar cell. The results described here show that these materials have potential application as active components in plastic electronics.

This thesis describes a number of studies of microstructured optical resonators, designed with the aim of enhancing the performance of organic semiconductor lasers and exploring potential applications. The methodology involves the micro-engineering of the photonic environment in order to modify the pathways of the emitted light and control the feedback mechanism. The research focuses on designing new organic microstructures using established semi-analytical and numerical methods, developing fabrication techniques using electron-beam lithography, and optically characterising the resulting structures. Control of the feedback mechanism in conjugated polymer lasers is first investigated by studying Distributed Feedback or photonic crystal resonators based on a square feedback lattice. This study identified the diffraction to free space radiation as a major source of loss in current microstructured resonator designs. By cancelling the coupling to free space through the use of different feedback symmetries and diffraction orders, a threshold reduction by almost an order of magnitude is demonstrated. The introduction of mid-gap defect photonic states in an otherwise uniformly periodic structure was studied in Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) resonators. This enabled GaN diode pumped polymer lasers to be demonstrated, indicating that the transition from complex excitation sources to more compact systems is possible. Devices for potential applications in the field of optical communications are also explored by demonstrating a polymer DBR laser based on silicon. In this way, the potential for integrating conjugated polymers with silicon photonics is confirmed. Photonic crystal fibres, which have a periodic microstructure in the transverse direction, are explored as an alternative means for controlling the optical properties of organic lasers. Fluidic fibre organic lasers were demonstrated as efficient sources with good spectral purity. In these devices, mechanisms to tune the emission wavelength were explored and the origin of the frequency selection mechanism was investigated.

Les sources d'énergie renouvelable connaissent un essor grandissant. Parmi celles-ci se trouvent les cellules photovoltaïques. Elles ont pour objet la transformation de la lumière en électricité. Les dispositifs actuels, basés sur le silicium, nécessitent des matériaux de très grande pureté et de hautes températures de mise en œuvre, les empêchant de concurrencer les principales sources d’énergie actuelles (fossile, nucléaire).<p>Une alternative pourrait provenir des matériaux semi-conducteurs organiques. En effet, l’utilisation de méthodes de mise en œuvre à partir de solutions pourrait permettre la fabrication de dispositifs flexibles et bon marché. Des résultats encourageants ont été obtenus avec des polymères conjugués et de petites molécules organiques. Les cristaux liquides discotiques CLDs forment une catégorie particulièrement intéressante de matériaux. Ils ont en effet la capacité de s’organiser spontanément en colonnes de molécules, formant des semi-conducteurs à une dimension. Leurs propriétés intéressantes en tant que semi-conducteurs, combinées à une mise en œuvre facile, en font de bons candidats pour de futures applications.<p>Dans ce travail, deux familles complémentaires de matériaux discotiques ont été développées, formant une paire de semi-conducteurs de type n et p. Leurs structures chimiques ont été étudiées en vue d'obtenir des matériaux possédant un ensemble de propriétés choisies afin d’optimiser les paramètres clefs du processus de photo-génération de charges. Ces propriétés sont les suivantes: forte absorption de la lumière dans le visible, fort caractère semi-conducteur de type n ou p, pas de phase cristalline à température ambiante, présence d'une phase cristal liquide colonne, phase isotrope en dessous de 200°C. De plus, les matériaux doivent être accessibles en un nombre minimum d’étapes d’une synthèse efficace, et ce avec un haut niveau de pureté. Ils doivent également être fortement solubles dans les solvants organiques usuels.<p>Cette étude comporte, pour chacune des deux familles de matériaux, le design de leur structure chimique, leur synthèse et la caractérisation de leurs propriétés physiques (thermotropes, optoélectroniques, électrochimiques). Comme possible semi-conducteur de type p, cinq dérivés tétrasubstitués de la phthalocyanine non-métallée ont été synthétisés, donnant un matériau possédant l’ensemble des propriétés recherchées. Comme possible semi-conducteur de type n, six dérivés hexasubstitués de l’hexaazatrinaphthylène ont été étudiés. L’un d’eux possède les propriétés requises.<p>Finalement, les propriétés optoélectroniques et photovoltaïques de mélanges des deux matériaux les plus prometteurs, ensemble ou avec d’autres matériaux, ont été étudiées. Des cellules solaires de rendement maximum de 1 % ont été obtenues pour deux dispositifs de compositions différentes.<p>Ces rendements, bien qu’inférieurs à ceux obtenus précédemment par d’autres groupes (jusqu’à 34 % à ce jour), sont néanmoins révélateurs des potentialités des matériaux organiques, et plus particulièrement des cristaux liquides discotiques, pour de futures applications dans le domaine des dispositifs électroniques.<p> / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation chimie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

In bulk-heterojunction solar cells, device performance is influenced by both the intrinsic properties of the individual components - typically conjugated polymers and fullerene derivatives - and how they assemble and interact at their interface. The ability of fullerene to intercalate within the side-chains of a conjugated polymer can significantly affect the microstructure and overall device performance. Here, a series of computational chemistry approaches are applied to investigate the relationships between structure and property in intercalated polymer:fullerene blend. Using a combination of molecular mechanics (MM) calculation and simulations of 2D grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) patterns, we have determined the molecular packing configuration of poly (2,5-bis (3-tetradecyl thiophene-2-yl) thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (PBTTT-C₁₄) and a blend of PBTTT-C₁₄ and [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM). Based on the confirmed packing structures, the electronic properties and morphological disorder were examined using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) calculations, respectively; we also investigated the intermolecular interaction energies behind the structure formation. Finally, we examined the vibrational, redox, and optical properties of the pristine polymer and a series of fullerene derivatives to understand the characteristic modes related to the various charged states of the systems.

The field of organic electronics, in which -conjugated, organic molecules and polymers are used as the active components (e.g., semiconductor, light emitter/harvester, etc.), has lead to a number a number of key technological developments that have been founded within fundamental research disciplines. In the Dissertation that follows, the research involves the use of quantum-chemical techniques to elucidate fundamental aspects of both intermolecular and intramolecular electron-transfer processes in organic, -conjugated molecules. The Dissertation begins with an introduction and brief review of organic molecular systems used as electron-transport semiconducting materials in device applications and/or in the fundamental studies of intramolecular mixed-valence processes. This introductory material is then followed by a brief review of the electronic-structure methods (e.g., Hartree-Fock theory and Density Functional Theory) and electron-transfer theory (i.e., semiclassical Marcus theory) employed throughout the investigations. The next three Chapters deal with investigations related to the characterization of non-rigid, -conjugated molecular systems that have amorphous solid-state properties used as the electron-transport layer in organic electronic and optoelectronic devices. Chapters 3 and 4 involve studies of silole- (silacyclopentadiene)-based materials that possess attractive electronic and optical properties in the solid state. Chapter 5 offers a preliminary study of dioxaborine-based molecular structures as electron-transport systems. In Chapters 6 8, the focus of the work shifts to investigations of organic mixed-valence systems. Chapter 6 centers on the examination of tetraanisylarylenediamine systems where the inter-redox site distances are approximately equal throughout the series. Chapter 7 examines the bridge-length dependence of the geometric structure, charge-(de)localization, and electronic coupling for a series of vinylene- and phenylene-vinylene-bridged bis-dianisylamines. In Chapter 8, the role of symmetric vibrations in the delocalization of the excess charge is studied in a dioxaborine radical-anion and a series of radical-cation bridged-bisdimethylamines. Finally, Chapter 9 provides a synopsis of the work and goals for future consideration.

L’électronique organique est un nouveau domaine de recherche qui combine les propriétés électriques de l’électronique avec les propriétés mécanique des matériaux organiques. De nouvelles applications telles que des écrans flexibles, de l’éclairage de surface ou des cellules photovoltaïques flexibles, qui ne sont pas possible avec l’électronique basée sur le silicium, sont envisagées. Les semi-conducteurs organiques sont les matériaux clés de ces dispositifs électroniques. Pour le design moléculaire, deux paramètres doivent être optimisés :l’énergie de réorganisation qui doit être minimisée et l’intégrale de transfert qui doit être maximisée. Avec un noyau aromatique rigide et étendu, les acènes linéaires tels que le pentacène et les anthradithiophènes (ADT) possèdent des énergies de réorganisation parmi les plus petites. Quant à l’intégrale de transfert, son intensité va dépendre de l’arrangement moléculaire qui ne peut malheureusement pas encore être prédit. Divers substituents peuvent être introduit sur le noyau aromatique afin de moduler l’arrangement moléculaire et ainsi maximiser l’intégrale de transfert.<p>Durant cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’amélioration du transport de charge des anthradithiophènes par design moléculaire. Deux approches ont été envisagées :l’approche moléculaire et l’approche macromoléculaire. L’approche moléculaire se base sur les travaux de Takimiya sur les naphtodithiophènes. Dans ces travaux, il est montré que la mobilité de charge est supérieure lorsque l’isomère anti est utilisé plutôt que l’isomère syn. Les anthradithiophènes sont généralement utilisés en tant que mélange d’isomères syn et anti ;ceci est une conséquence de la voie de synthèse utilisée. Il est raisonnable de penser qu’utiliser des ADT isomériquement purs donnera des mobilités de charge plus élevées, à l’instar des naphtodithiophènes. Le premier objectif de cette thèse est donc de développer une méthodologie permettant d’obtenir des ADT isomériquement purs. L’approche macromoléculaire est basée sur les travaux théoriques d’Antoine Van Vooren sur le couplage électronique via pont éthylène (non conjugué). Selon ces calculs, le couplage électronique entre deux noyaux aromatiques est plus important lorsqu’ils sont reliés par un pont éthylène que lorsqu’ils sont indépendants. Le second objectif de cette thèse est de développer une méthodologie qui permet d’attacher deux ADTs via a pont éthylène.<p>Une stratégie de synthèse menant à l’anti-ADT a été développée. La quantité d’anti-ADT disponible via cette méthodologie est assez faible. Par conséquent, une autre méthodologie a été développée. En fonctionnalisant un des intermédiaires de réaction, il est possible de séparer les deux isomères et ainsi d’obtenir de plus grandes quantités d’anti-ADT et de syn-ADT. Les spectres d’absorption UV-vis du mélange et des différents isomères ont été comparés. Des études sur des dispositifs électroniques utilisant des ADT isomériquement purs sont en cours.<p>Une stratégie de synthèse menant à l’ADT ponté a été développée. Dans cette stratégie, le pont éthylène est synthétisé en premier et les entités anthradithiophènes générées dans un deuxième temps. L’ADT ponté a été obtenu à l’état de traces, détectées uniquement par spectrométrie de masse. Des efforts synthétique supplémentaire sont nécessaire afin d’obtenir l’ADT ponté dans des quantités suffisantes pour fabriquer des dispositifs électroniques. La fabrication de dispositifs électroniques est une étape cruciale dans la détermination de l’impact du pont sur la mobilité de charge.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

<p dir="ltr">Two-dimensional (2D) perovskite semiconductors are an emerging family of hybrid materials featuring a built-in quantum well architecture which has gained much interest due to its potential as a promising candidate for next-generation photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. To successfully integrate 2D perovskites as efficient devices, it is imperative that a thorough understanding of the fundamental properties these materials possess and how their complex heterostructures behave is established. However, to date, the synthetic challenges regarding high-quality crystals of these materials due to the structural complexity and the hybrid nature have impeded further progress in this area. Thus, we demonstrate a general method to construct tunable 2D organic semiconductor-incorporated perovskites (OSiP) by simultaneously manipulating slab thickness of the inorganic layers and conjugation length of the organic substituents. The energy band offsets and exciton dynamics at the organic-inorganic interfaces were elucidated using computational means and ultrafast spectroscopy, while lattice dynamics were quantified via temperature-dependent spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. Results show that longer and more planar π-conjugated organic ligands induce a more rigid inorganic crystal lattice, which leads to suppressed exciton-phonon interactions and superior optoelectronic properties such as efficient lasing.</p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, understanding ion migration in two-dimensional (2D) perovskite materials is key to enhancing device performance and stability as well. However, prior studies have been primarily limited to heat and light-induced ion migration. To investigate electrically induced ion migration in 2D perovskites, we construct a high-quality single crystal 2D perovskite heterostructure device platform with near defect-free van der Waals contact. While achieving real-time visualization of directional ion migration, we also uncover the unique behavior of halide anions inter-diffusing towards the opposite direction under prolonged bias. Confocal microscopy imaging reveals a halide migration channel that aligns with the crystal and heterojunction edges. After sustained ion migration, stable junction diodes exhibiting up to ~1000-fold forward to reverse current ratio are realized. Unraveling the fundamental properties of 2D OSiPs as well as ion migration in 2D perovskite heterostructures paves the way towards stable and efficient devices.</p>

Electrical doping of organic semiconductors with molecular oxidants (p-type) or reductants (n-type) can greatly improve charge injection and conductivity in devices. Simple one electron reductants that are capable of reducing most electron-transport materials will inevitably also be sensitive to reaction with oxygen. Coupling electron transfer step with bond breaking/ making processes in principle can address this problem. The rhodocene dimer and related ruthenium and iridium dimeric sandwich compounds have been discussed as example of such n-dopants, reducing a variety of organic semiconductors to the corresponding radical anions, while forming monomeric cations. This class of n-dopants can be used in both vapor- and solution-processed devices, and the dopant monomer cations are large and, therefore, fairly stable with respect to diffusion. This thesis focused on increasing the utility of these and related electrical dopants. In order to reduce various electron-transport materials with lower electron affinities, which are frequently used in OLEDs, strategies and limitations to develop stronger n-dopants is discussed. Controlling the kinetics of the dopant / semiconductor reactions to allow film processing in ambient conditions, with activation of the dopants being carried out thermally or photochemically in subsequent steps is presented. An approach to covalently tether monomeric cations with themselves, surfaces or electron-transport materials is described. Electrochemical studies that further our understanding of dopant kinetics and thermodynamics is described. The dimer dopant chemistry is also compared to the corresponding hydride-reduced complexes of the cations and manganese tricarbonyl benzene dimer. The directions for future dopant design with improved properties is discussed.

Our group has previously shown that small changes to molecular structure result in large changes to device properties and stability in organic electronic applications. By functionalizing aromatic heteroacenes with group 14 and group 16 elements, it is possible to control morphology and improve stability for a variety of applications such as thin film transistors and solar cells. Functionalization within the heteroacene core led to changes in electronic structure as observed by electrochemistry and light absorption. By substituting down the periodic table, the carbon heteroatom bond length increased, leading to subtle changes in crystal packing. Absorption maxima were red-­‐shifted and stability to light decreased. Substitution of group 14 elements to the solubilizing ethynyl groups attached to the heteroacene also had an effect on crystallization and stability. Substitution of silicon with carbon decreased solubility as well as stability to light. Substitution with germanium also decreased stability to light, but close contacts within the crystal structure and solubility in nonpolar organic solvents increased.

Soluble organic semiconductors have attracted interest due to their potential in making flexible and cheap electronics. Though their use is being implemented in electronics today, the conduction mechanism is still under investigation. In order to study the charge transport, this study examines the position, voltage, and frequency dependence of charge induced changes in far infrared absorption in soluble organic semiconductors in thin-film transistor structures. Measurements are compared to a simple model of a one-dimensional conductor which gives insight into the charge distribution and timing in devices. Main results of the study are dynamic measurements of charge taken by varying the frequency of the applied gate voltage while observing signal at one position within the transistor; mobility values obtained from a comparison to the one-dimensional model compare well with standard current-voltage measurements. Two small molecule soluble organic semiconductors were studied: 6,13 bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-pentacene and fluorinated 5,11 bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene.