Solid-state low-temperature extrusion of P3HT ribbons

Ribbons of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) 0.15 and 0.30 mm thickness were extruded at the temperatures of 200 and 250 degrees C, i.e., below and above the melting temperature of P3HT (similar to 240 degrees C), using a small homemade extrusion device. The ribbons produced by this method are continuous and freestanding. WAXS results show that all the extruded samples are more crystalline than the original powder, and the different processing conditions cause different variations in the crystal unit cell dimensions of P3HT. In terms of the degree of orientation, the ribbons extruded in the solid state (T <T-m) show significant degrees of anisotropy in opposition to the sample extruded in the molten state (T > T-m), which is fully isotropic.