Three-Dimensional Structure of P3HT Assemblies in Organic Solvents Revealed by Cryo-TEM

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) assemblies in vitrified organic solvents were visualized at nanometer scale resolution by cryo-transmission electron microscopy, low dose electron diffraction, and cryo-tomography revealing a three-dimensional lamellar structure formed by the stacking of the conjugated backbones of P3HT with a distance of 1.7 nm and increased order in the bulk of the nanowire. This combination of techniques reveals local structures in dispersion and the condensed state that play a crucial role in the performance of organic electronic devices.