Novel Semiconducting Polymer Particles by Supercritical Fluid Process

Summary: A simple method to prepare surfactant‐free and solvent‐free semiconducting polymer particles by using an environmentally benign supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) process is reported. The process of the rapid expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS) is used to produce spherical particles of poly2‐(3‐thienyl)acetyl 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8‐tridecafluorooctanoate] (PSFTE), 50–500 nm in size, from 0.1–0.5 wt.‐% PSFTE solutions in CO₂ at pre‐expansion temperatures of 40 °C and pre‐expansion pressures of 276 bar.

An FESEM image of PSFTE particles produced by the RESS process with CO₂.