An indacenodithiophene-based semiconducting polymer with high ductility for stretchable organic electronics. Issue 34 (10th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yilin; Tatum, Wesley K.; Onorato, Jonathan W.; Barajas, Sierra D.; Yang, Yun Young; Luscombe, Christine K.
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 8:Issue 34(2017)
• Page Start: 5185
• Page End: 5193
• Publication Date: 2017-05-10
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c7py00435d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : An alkyl-substituted indacenodithiophene-based donor–acceptor π-conjugated polymer (PIDTBPD ) with low stiffness and high ductility is reported. Abstract : An alkyl-substituted indacenodithiophene-based donor–acceptor π-conjugated polymer (PIDTBPD ) with low stiffness and high ductility is reported. The polymer was synthesized after DFT calculations predicted that it would have a kinked backbone conformation while showing strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), suggestive of the fact that it would be beneficial to the polymer's elasticity and charge mobility. Atom-efficient direct arylation polymerization (DArP) was exploited to synthesize the polymer. Mechanical studies indicate thatPIDTBPD has relatively rapid stress-relaxation properties, which lead to a low elastic modulus of 200 MPa and high crack-onset strain of ca . 40% (lower limit). A moderate charge carrier mobility of 2 × 10 −3 cm 2 V −1 s −1 with a current on/off ratio of 2.5 × 10 6 was obtained from the fabricated OFETs. Further experiments were performed to elucidate the structural aspects of this polymer: UV-Vis and PL spectra suggest that minimal conformational change occurs in the polymer between its diluted solution and thin film states; DSC measurements indicate that the polymer's T g is below −20 °C, allowing it to be in a rubbery state at room temperature; and XRD studies support this observation suggesting that the polymer is mostly amorphous at room temperature.