The effect of the perpendicular electric field on structure formation in solution-cast composites of conjugated and dielectric polymers

Large-area polymer composite coatings are fabricated by horizontal dipping, with a horizontally drawn solid substrate wetted by a meniscus of dissolved composite solution, formed between the substrate and a cylindrical bar kept at constant height in the range of a few tens of micrometres. As an extension of this coating technique electric field is applied between the (conducting) substrate and the bar (gold covered) (Fig. 1). Although it is effective only in the beginning part of film structure formation, it has a profound effect on final film morphology. When the electric field is repeatedly switched on and off the spatial patterns of different morphologies are formed, changing between semiconductor/insulator bilayers and lateral (quasi-2-dim) structures or between lateral droplet-like morphologies dominated by continuous semiconductor or insulator phase. The described method and equipment is patent pending (number P.418951, filing date 2016-10-01). (authors)