Micro-contact printing of poly(3-hexylthiophene) on silicon oxide: Effect of stamp stretching

Micro-contact printing (μCP) has been applied to deposit poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) layer onto silicon oxide substrate from a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp. The effect of the stamp stretching onto the corresponding printed P3HT layer has been analysed both from morphological (AFM) and from structural (XRD) points of view. Results show an orienting effect of the stretching towards the P3HT ultimate morphological units (i.e. fibrils) along the stretching direction. The influence of other variables involved in the deposition (substrate polarity/apolarity, mechanical pressure onto the stamp) have been studied and reported.