Date of Last Revision
2023-05-03 05:05:17
Major
Physics
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2018
Abstract
Thiophenes are π-conjugated organic molecules with applications in electronic devices. Alpha-sexithiophene (α-6T) is a rod-like molecule consisting of six thiophene rings. Previous experimental research has shown that vapor deposition of rod-like organic molecules onto substrates at different temperatures yields films with a range of phases. These include smectic liquid crystalline phases, which have been shown to promote anisotropic charge carrier mobility. In this work, we use a course-grained model for α-6T, representing it as a chain of discotic particles with fixed bond lengths and fixed bond angles. We perform Monte Carlo simulations of multiple chains introduced at different rates in vacuum near two adsorbing surfaces. These simulations are not chemically realistic, instead focusing on the general features of the physical systems. The goal of this work is to simulate vapor deposition of materials on a substrate over a range of temperatures and deposition rates and to investigate the resulting structures.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Jutta Luettmer-Strathmann
First Reader
Dr. Robert Mallik
Second Reader
Dr. Ben Hu
Recommended Citation
Audley, Andrew, "Molecular Organization of Vapor Deposited Rod-Like Molecules" (2018). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 657.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/657