DataVXChemistry of MaterialsPaper
journal article·2019-09-10Open access

Managing Local Order in Conjugated Polymer Blends via Polarity Contrast

Matthew J. Dyson, Eirini Lariou, Jaime Martin, Ruipeng Li, Harikrishna Erothu, Guillaume Wantz, Paul D. Topham, Olivier J. Dautel, Sophia C. Hayes, Paul N. Stavrinou, Natalie Stingelin

Chemistry of Materials· Volume 31· Issue 17
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Source abstract

Abstract

The optoelectronic landscape of conjugated polymers is intimately related to their molecular arrangement and packing, with minute changes in local order, such as chain conformation and torsional backbone order/disorder, frequently having a substantial effect on macroscopic properties. While many of these local features can be manipulated via chemical design, the synthesis of a series of compounds is often required to elucidate correlations between chemical structure and macromolecular ordering. Here, we show that blending semiconducting polymers with insulating commodity plastics enables controlled manipulation of the semiconductor backbone planarity. The key is to create a polarity difference between the semiconductor backbone and its side chains, while matching the polarity of the side chains and the additive. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach through judicious comparison of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with two of its more polar derivatives, namely the diblock copolymer poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT-b-PEO) and the graft polymer poly[3-but(ethylene oxide)thiophene] (P3BEOT), as well as their blends with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Proximity between polar side chains and a similarly polar additive reduces steric hindrance between individual chain segments by essentially “expelling” the side chains away from the semiconducting backbones. This process, shown to be facilitated via exposure to polar environments such as humid air/water vapor, facilitates backbone realignment toward specific chain arrangements and, in particular, planar backbone configurations.
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Research context

PolymersElectronic materials

OpenAlex topics: Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics · Conducting polymers and applications · Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Compounds

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Molecular Materials and Nanosystems, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Department of Physics and Centre for Plastic Electronics, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.

Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus

POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida de Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain

National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11967, United States

Aston Institute of Materials Research, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K.

Centre for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh-522 502, India

Université de Bordeaux, IMS, CNRS, UMR-5218, Bordeaux INP, ENSCBP, 33405 Talence, France

Institut Charles Gerhardt de Montpellier, Laboratoire AM2N, UMR-5253, Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, 8 rue de l’École Normale, 34296 Montpellier Cedex 5, France

Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, U.K.

School of Materials Science & Engineering and School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States

Department of Materials and Centre for Plastic Electronics, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.

Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques − LCPO, UMR5629 Université de Bordeaux, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Bâtiment B8 CS50023, 33615 Pessac Cedex, France

Funding

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council · Agence Nationale de la Recherche · Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science · Ministerio de Econom?a y Competitividad · H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions · National Science Foundation · Seventh Framework Programme

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