Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)-poly(ε-caprolactone) block copolymers: Controlled synthesis, microscopic morphology, and charge transport properties

In this paper, we describe the design and characterization of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)-poly(ε-caprolactone) di- and tri-block copolymers (RRP3HT-b-PCL and PCL-b-RRP3HT-b-PCL). The well-controlled synthesis of (di)hydroxyl-terminated RRP3HT makes possible to design block copolymer structures with a narrow molecular weight distribution. The microscopic morphology is investigated by atomic force microscopy, which reveals self-assembled fibrillar structures with the RRP3HT nanoribbons separated by narrow domains of insulating PCL. The charge transport properties are characterized in thin films field-effect transistors, and comparison between the devices performances is carried out in view of the nanoscale morphology within the transistor channel.