Fused electron deficient semiconducting polymers for air stable electron transport

Ada Onwubiko, Wan Yue, Cameron Jellett, Mingfei Xiao, Hung Yang Chen, Mahesh Kumar Ravva, David A. Hanifi, Astrid Caroline Knall, Balaji Purushothaman, Mark Nikolka, Jean Charles Flores, Alberto Salleo, Jean Luc Bredas, Henning Sirringhaus, Pascal Hayoz, Iain McCulloch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

143 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conventional semiconducting polymer synthesis typically involves transition metal-mediated coupling reactions that link aromatic units with single bonds along the backbone. Rotation around these bonds contributes to conformational and energetic disorder and therefore potentially limits charge delocalisation, whereas the use of transition metals presents difficulties for sustainability and application in biological environments. Here we show that a simple aldol condensation reaction can prepare polymers where double bonds lock-in a rigid backbone conformation, thus eliminating free rotation along the conjugated backbone. This polymerisation route requires neither organometallic monomers nor transition metal catalysts and offers a reliable design strategy to facilitate delocalisation of frontier molecular orbitals, elimination of energetic disorder arising from rotational torsion and allowing closer interchain electronic coupling. These characteristics are desirable for high charge carrier mobilities. Our polymers with a high electron affinity display long wavelength NIR absorption with air stable electron transport in solution processed organic thin film transistors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number416
JournalNature communications
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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