Printing functional nanostructures: a novel route towards nanostructuring of organic electronic devices via soft embossing, inkjet printing and colloidal self assembly of semiconducting polymer nanospheres

A new method for nanostructure formation from conjugated polymers is presented: an aqueous dispersion of semiconducting polymer nanospheres (SPNs) is deposited by inkjet printing onto a polymer surface patterned by soft embossing. By interaction between the spheres and the undulated surface a self assembly process is triggered, resulting in the formation of SPN nanostructures determined by the template. Both template layer and assembled SPNs can be incorporated into a device structure. We demonstrate a light emitting structure for use in polymer light emitting devices including analyses by atomic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy.