Imaging deposition-dependent supramolecular chiral organisation

Thin films of a chiral diketopyrrolopyrrole derivative were imaged with spatially-defined Mueller Matrix Polarimetry, focussing on the Circular Dichroism signal, giving unique insight into the impact that deposition techniques and thermal annealing can have on chiral supramolecular structures in the solid state, where homogeneity was observed for spun-coated films while drop-coating afforded chiroptical diversity in the material, a feature invisible to absorption spectroscopy or optical microscopy.

Automated summary

In this study, thin films of a chiral diketopyrrolopyrrole derivative were examined using spatially-defined Mueller Matrix Polarimetry, with a focus on the Circular Dichroism signal. The impact of deposition techniques and thermal annealing on chiral supramolecular structures in the solid state was investigated. It was found that spun-coated films showed homogeneity, while drop-coating resulted in chiroptical diversity in the material, a feature that cannot be observed using absorption spectroscopy or optical microscopy.