Development of block copolymers for devices based on organic semiconductors

Block copolymers consisting of semiconducting components are designed, and are applied to the various semiconductor devices such as photorefractive, photovoltaic, electroluminescent applications. Self-assembly of block copolymers makes it possible to fabricate the nano-structure controlled thin films and to manipulate the interfaces of films. Consequently, thin films with multiphases and multifunctions, which are essential to order to improve the device performance, are fabricated via a single and simple process. Relationship between chemical structure of polymers, nano-structure of thin-film, and device performance is investigated. The scheme of research is as follows.
1) Design and preparation of monomers, and their polymerization via the single process or the combination of living processes, cross-coupling reactions
2) Fabrication of thin-films and characterization of hierarchical nano-structures by electron microscope observations, and x-ray scattering experiments
3) Evaluation of devices based on synthesized block copolymers