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Processable High Electron Mobility π‐Copolymers via Mesoscale Backbone Conformational Ordering
Author(s) -
Eckstein Brian J.,
Melkonyan Ferdinand S.,
Wang Gang,
Wang Binghao,
Manley Eric F.,
Fabiano Simone,
Harbuzaru Alexandra,
Ponce Ortiz Rocio,
Chen Lin X.,
Facchetti Antonio,
Marks Tobin J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202009359
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , delocalized electron , comonomer , organic electronics , electron mobility , chemical physics , planarity testing , nanotechnology , polymer , crystallography , transistor , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics , voltage
The synthesis and experimental/theoretical characterization of a new series of electron‐transporting copolymers based on the naphthalene bis(4,8‐diamino‐1,5‐dicarboxyl)amide (NBA) building block are reported. Comonomers are designed to test the emergent effects of manipulating backbone torsional characteristics, and density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveals the key role of backbone conformation in optimizing electronic delocalization and transport. The NBA copolymer conformational and electronic properties are characterized using a broad array of molecular/macromolecular, thermal, optical, electrochemical, and charge transport techniques. All NBA copolymers exhibit strongly aggregated morphologies with significant nanoscale order. Copolymer charge transport properties are investigated in thin‐film transistors and exhibit excellent electron mobilities ranging from 0.4 to 4.5 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Importantly, the electron transport efficiency correlates with the film mesoscale order, which emerges from comonomer‐dependent backbone planarity and extension. These results illuminate the key NBA building block structure–morphology–bulk property design relationships essential for processable, electronics‐applicable high‐performance polymeric semiconductors.