Sharp phase-separated interface of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene/polystyrene blend films prepared by electrostatic spray deposition

In this study, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on blend films comprising 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS pentacene) and polystyrene (PS) were fabricated. The blend films were prepared by electrostatic spray deposition (ESD). A vertically phase-separated structure (TIPS pentacene (top)/PS (bottom)) can be spontaneously formed without additional treatments such as solvent-vapor annealing, which is significantly different from the blend with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Due to the sharp phase-separated interface, OFETs based on the TIPS pentacene/PS blend films exhibited superior characteristics and operational stability.