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PMMA as an effective protection layer against the oxidation of P3HT and MDMO-PPV by ozone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2018

Andreas Früh ,
Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf ,
Holger Hintz ,
Dustin Quinones ,
Christoph J. Brabec ,
Heiko Peisert  and
Thomas Chassé
Andreas Früh
Affiliation:
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf*
Affiliation:
Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research, Solar Factory of the Future, 90429 Nuremberg, Germany
Holger Hintz
Affiliation:
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Dustin Quinones
Affiliation:
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Christoph J. Brabec
Affiliation:
Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research, Solar Factory of the Future, 90429 Nuremberg, Germany; and iMEET, Friedrich Alexander-University, Erlangen 91058, Germany
Heiko Peisert
Affiliation:
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Thomas Chassé
Affiliation:
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: hans-joachim.egelhaaf@zae-bayern.de
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Abstract

The protective effect of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) cover layers against the degradation of π-conjugated polymers by ozone and photo-oxidation, respectively, has been investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The PMMA films were cast from solution at thicknesses between 20 and 100 nm on top of films of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]. PMMA layers of more than 65 nm in thickness reduce the oxidation rate of the π-conjugated polymers under 15 ppm of ozone in the dark by more than three orders of magnitude, whereas photo-oxidation rates under dry and humid air remain unaffected. The PMMA cover layers are hardly affected by ambient ozone over thousands of hours. Calculations of ozone and oxygen fluxes through the PMMA films reveal that ozonation rates are limited by the diffusion of ozone, whereas photo-oxidation rates are not limited by the diffusion of oxygen, due to the much larger pressure gradient of the latter.

Keywords

organicoxidationoptoelectronic
Type
Invited Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 33 , Issue 13: Focus Issue: Stabilization of Organic Electronic Materials and Devices , 14 July 2018 , pp. 1891 - 1901
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Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

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