Effect of Molecular Weight on the Morphology of a Polymer Semiconductor–Thermoplastic Elastomer Blend

Peña‐Alcántara, Amnahir; Nikzad, Shayla; Michalek, Lukas; Prine, Nathaniel; Wang, Yunfei; Gong, Huaxin; Ponte, Elisa; Schneider, Sebastian; Wu, Yilei; Root, Samuel E.; He, Mingqian; Tok, Jeffrey B. ‐H.; Gu, Xiaodan; Bao, Zhenan

doi:10.1002/aelm.202201055

Effect of Molecular Weight on the Morphology of a Polymer Semiconductor–Thermoplastic Elastomer Blend

Journal Article · Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Advanced Electronic Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202201055· OSTI ID:1914341

^[1]; ^[2]; Michalek, Lukas ^[2]; Prine, Nathaniel ^[3]; Wang, Yunfei ^[3]; Gong, Huaxin ^[2]; Ponte, Elisa ^[1]; Schneider, Sebastian ^[4]; ^[2]; Root, Samuel E. ^[2]; He, Mingqian ^[5]; Tok, Jeffrey B. ‐H. ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[2]

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
Department of Chemical Engineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
School of Polymer Science and Engineering The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg MS 3940 USA
Department of Chemistry Stanford University USA
Corning Incorporated Corning New York NY 14831 USA

Abstract

Polymer semiconductors (PSCs) are essential active materials in mechanically stretchable electronic devices. However, many exhibit low fracture strain due to their rigid chain conformation and the presence of large crystalline domains. Here, a PSC/elastomer blend, poly[((2,6‐bis(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐3,7‐bis(9‐octylnonadecyl)thieno[3,2‐b]thieno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐d]thiophene)‐5,5′‐diyl)(2,5‐bis(8‐octyloctadecyl)‐3,6‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4‐dione)‐5,5′‐diyl]] (P2TDPP2TFT4) and polystyrene‐ block ‐poly(ethylene‐ran‐butylene)‐ block ‐polystyrene (SEBS) are systematically investigated. Specifically, the effects of molecular weight of both SEBS and P2TDPP2TFT4 on the resulting blend morphology, mechanical, and electrical properties are explored. In addition to commonly used techniques, atomic force microscopy‐based nanomechanical images are used to provide additional insights into the blend film morphology. Opposing trends in SEBS‐induced aggregation are observed for the different P2TDPP2TFT4 molecular weights upon increasing the SEBS molecular weight from 87 to 276 kDa. Furthermore, these trends are seen in device performance trends for both molecular weights of P2TDPP2TFT4. SEBS molecular weight also has a substantial influence on the mesoscale phase separation. Strain at fracture increases dramatically upon blending, reaching a maximum value of 640% ± 20% in the blended films measured with film‐on‐water method. These results highlight the importance of molecular weight for electronic devices. In addition, this study provides valuable insights into appropriate polymer selections for stretchable semiconducting thin films that simultaneously possess excellent mechanical and electrical properties.

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Research Organization:: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford University, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: German Research Foundation (DFG); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program; USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-76SF00515; SC0016523

OSTI ID:: 1914341

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1975751
OSTI ID: 1994837
OSTI ID: 1995593

Journal Information:: Advanced Electronic Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Electronic Materials Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 9; ISSN 2199-160X

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Elastomer
Organic field effect transistor
Organic semiconductors
Polymer blend
Polymer semiconductor

Effect of Molecular Weight on the Morphology of a Polymer Semiconductor–Thermoplastic Elastomer Blend

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