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Title: Tuning conformation, assembly, and charge transport properties of conjugated polymers by printing flow

Journal Article · · Science Advances

Intrachain charge transport is unique to conjugated polymers distinct from inorganic and small molecular semiconductors and is key to achieving high-performance organic electronics. Polymer backbone planarity and thin film morphology sensitively modulate intrachain charge transport. However, simple, generic nonsynthetic approaches for tuning backbone planarity and the ensuing multiscale assembly process do not exist. We first demonstrate that printing flow is capable of planarizing the originally twisted polymer backbone to substantially increase the conjugation length. This conformation change leads to a marked morphological transition from chiral, twinned domains to achiral, highly aligned morphology, hence a fourfold increase in charge carrier mobilities. We found a surprising mechanism that flow extinguishes a lyotropic twist-bend mesophase upon backbone planarization, leading to the observed morphology and electronic structure transitions.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); American Association of University Women (AAUW); USDOE Office of Science (SC); European Union’s Horizon 2020
Grant/Contract Number:
NSF DMR 16-41854; NSF DMR 18-47828; N00014-19-1-2146; DMR 17-20633; AC02-06CH11357; 722651; 1653909
OSTI ID:
1600813
Journal Information:
Science Advances, Vol. 5, Issue 8; ISSN 2375-2548
Publisher:
AAASCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 82 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Printing 2D Conjugated Polymer Monolayers and Their Distinct Electronic Properties journal February 2020