Date of Award

Spring 2009

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Micro and Nanoscale Systems

First Advisor

Scott A. Gold

Abstract

Conducting and semiconducting, π-conjugated polymers are promising materials for micro- and nano-optoelectronic applications because of their widely tunable physical, electrical, and optical properties. These polymers have been used to fabricate a number of electronic devices including field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes, and photovoltaic cells. However, widespread commercial application of these devices has yet to be realized, due in part to poor electronic transport characteristics and device degradation.

Nanostructuring of conjugated polymers by various methods has demonstrated marked improvements in molecular ordering and electronic transport. In this research, nanoscale, tubular structures of semiconducting polymers fabricated by template wetting nanofabrication procedures are explored. In particular, confinement-induced effects on the electronic carrier transport property mobility, μ, were investigated for both highly ordered and amorphous polymers. Analysis of space-charge-limited currents provided the key means of monitoring transport characteristics and molecular order. The effects of chemical filtration, nanotube diameter, solvent selection, and temperature are examined in detail.

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