Why did you choose the ICMAB?

Because the study project interests me and Esther is a nice person, I believe we will have a good collaboration.

How would you explain your research to a non-scientific audience?

My work focuses on studying the relationship between the structure and function of molecules in different arrangements, identifying which arrangement allows the molecules to perform optimally, and how to regulate them to achieve that arrangement.

What are the main applications of your research? Could you give us an example?

The main application is in organic devices, such as Organic Field-Effect Transistors (OFETs).

What will you miss the most from ICMAB?

I tink i miss the lunchtime with friends and collages at graden.

How do you think this experience will contribute to your training and to your future?

First of all, as a foreigner, I have experienced different cultures, and I believe that, in some ways, the optimistic, enthusiastic Spanish culture has influenced my personality. I will carry this influence with me into the next stage of my life.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your PhD?

I wish I knew how to achieve a better work-life balance.

Why did you become a scientist? Which have been your role models?

I believe my curiosity about the truth, along with the support from my grandmother, has shaped me. My role model is my grandfather.
 
Which is your favourite female scientist?

It's Chien-Shiung Wu. I admire her because she is smart, hardworking, elegant, and dignified.

Abstract

Organic semiconductor (OSC) thin films based on π-conjugated molecules have garnered significant interest in electronic devices.
In recent years, substantial progress has been made in this field, resulting in a growing market for organic semiconductor electronic products, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) display technology. Although the development of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) has not progressed as rapidly as OLEDs, OFETs have emerged as a commercially viable technology. However, many fundamental research questions remain unresolved. Carrier mobility is a primary performance indicator for OFETs. It depends on structural details at different length scales, which are not yet fully understood or satisfactorily controlled. One critical issue is polymorphism.

In this thesis, we combined surface characterization techniques such as synchrotron-based grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and local Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) to provide a systematic and detailed characterization of polymorphism in C8O-BTBT-OC8 and Ph-BTBT-10 thin films, with particular focus on the role of the interface. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for optimizing and controlling film quality, which are of significant importance for enhancing the performance and reproducibility of organic field-effect transistor (OFET) devices.

Supervisors

Esther Barrena

PhD comitte

President:  Dra. Carmen Munuera, ICMM, Spain

Secretari: Dr. Cristian Rodríguez, ICN2, Spain

Vocal: Dra. Mercedes Linares, Graz University of Technology, Austria