Ordered nanocolumn-array organic semiconductor thin films with controllable molecular orientation

Ordered nanocolumn-array phthalocynine semiconductor thin films with controllable molecular orientation were fabricated by combining molecular template growth (MTG) and glancing angle deposition (GLAD) techniques. The pre-deposited planar perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic-3,4,9,10-dianhydride (PTCDA) molecular template layer induces phthalocynine molecules arrange with a lying-down molecular orientation, in which the π–π stacking is vertical to the substrate improving the charge transport along the vertical direction; While the GLAD technique supports the formation of nanocolumn-array thin films, supplying a much larger exposed surface area than the conventional compact thin films. The ordered nanocolumn-array thin films with controllable molecular orientation fabricated by combining MTG and GLAD techniques show the potentials to fabricate ordered bulk heterojunction for improving the performance in organic photovoltaics.