Controlled formation of large-area single-crystalline TIPS-pentacene arrays through superhydrophobic micropillar flow-coating

Abstract

A convenient and controlled organic semiconductor alignment strategy, superhydrophobic micropillar flow-coating (SMFC), is presented. Patterned, large-area (>1 cm²) 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) single-crystalline arrays which show hole mobilities up to 6.8 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ were obtained via this method. Crucially, the polymorphism of TIPS-pentacene was regulated by tuning the flow rate, solvent and the substrate hydrophobicity. These results indicate that this technique is reliable for creating uniform and homogenous organic single-crystalline arrays with controlled crystal packing, thickness, and position.