Oligothiophenes for Pattern Formation by Stamping

Oligothiophene monomers with a fixed length varying from 3 to 5 thiophene rings were prepared by Stille coupling. They were functionalised with one or two methacrylate groups to allow polymerization and cross-linking. These monomers can be patterned with the help of soft silicon stamps (e.g., with the micro-injection moulding in capillaries process) on substrates like glass or flexible polymer foils. If a photoinitiator has been added, they can then be hardened by exposure to UV-light through the transparent stamp. Afterwards the stamp can be removed. This allows the preparation of several centimeters long oligothiophene lines of a width varying between 50 and 0.5 μm. These lines of semiconducting organic material can be used e.g., as an orientation layer for liquid crystals. The resulting line patterns from embossing oligomer 17, line width 500 nm.