Effect of Alkyl Side Chains on Intercrystallite Ordering in Semiconducting Polymers

Unraveling the Unconventional Order of a High-Mobility Indacenodithiophene-Benzothiadiazole Copolymer

A new class of donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers found to produce high charge carrier mobilities competitive with amorphous silicon (>1 cm² V^-1 s^-1) exhibit the puzzling microstructure of substantial local order, however lacking long-range order and crystallinity previously deemed necessary for achieving high mobility. Here, we demonstrate the application of low-dose transmission electron microscopy to image and quantify the nanoscale and mesoscale organization of an archetypal D-A copolymer across areas comparable to electronic devices (≈9 μm²). The local structure is spatially resolved by mapping the backbone (001) spacing reflection, revealing nanocrystallites of aligned polymer chains throughout nearly the entire film. Analysis of the nanoscale structure of its ordered domains suggests significant short- and medium-range order and preferential grain boundary orientations. Moreover, we provide insights into the rich, interconnected mesoscale organization of this new family of D-A copolymers by analysis of the local orientational spatial autocorrelations.

Synthesis of Long-Chain Alkanoyl Benzenes by an Aluminum(III) Chloride-Catalyzed Destannylative Acylation Reaction

This paper describes the facile synthesis of haloaryl compounds with long-chain alkanoyl substituents by the destannylative acylation of haloaryls bearing tri-n-butyltin (Bu₃Sn) substituents. The method allows the synthesis of many important synthons for novel functional materials in a highly efficient manner. The halo-tri-n-butyltin benzenes are obtained by the lithium-halogen exchange of commercially available bis-haloarenes and the subsequent reaction with Bu₃SnCl. Under typical Friedel-Crafts conditions, i.e., the presence of an acid chloride and AlCl₃, the haloaryls are acylated through destannylation. The reactions proceed fast (<5 min) at low temperatures and thus are compatible with aromatic halogen substituents. Furthermore, the method is applicable to para-, meta-, and ortho-substitution and larger systems, as demonstrated for biphenyls. The generated tin byproducts were efficiently removed by trapping with silica/KF filtration, and most long-chain haloaryls were obtained chromatography-free. Molecular structures of several products were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, and the crystal packing was investigated by mapping Hirshfeld surfaces onto individual molecules. A feasible reaction mechanism for the destannylative acylation reaction is proposed and supported through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. DFT results in combination with NMR-scale control experiments unambiguously demonstrate the importance of the tin substituent as a leaving group, which enables the acylation.

Molecular Characterization of Polymer Networks

Polymer networks are complex systems consisting of molecular components. Whereas the properties of the individual components are typically well understood by most chemists, translating that chemical insight into polymer networks themselves is limited by the statistical and poorly defined nature of network structures. As a result, it is challenging, if not currently impossible, to extrapolate from the molecular behavior of components to the full range of performance and properties of the entire polymer network. Polymer networks therefore present an unrealized, important, and interdisciplinary opportunity to exert molecular-level, chemical control on material macroscopic properties. A barrier to sophisticated molecular approaches to polymer networks is that the techniques for characterizing the molecular structure of networks are often unfamiliar to many scientists. Here, we present a critical overview of the current characterization techniques available to understand the relation between the molecular properties and the resulting performance and behavior of polymer networks, in the absence of added fillers. We highlight the methods available to characterize the chemistry and molecular-level properties of individual polymer strands and junctions, the gelation process by which strands form networks, the structure of the resulting network, and the dynamics and mechanics of the final material. The purpose is not to serve as a detailed manual for conducting these measurements but rather to unify the underlying principles, point out remaining challenges, and provide a concise overview by which chemists can plan characterization strategies that suit their research objectives. Because polymer networks cannot often be sufficiently characterized with a single method, strategic combinations of multiple techniques are typically required for their molecular characterization.

Pushing the limits of high-resolution polymer microscopy using antioxidants

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) has been transformative to the field of polymer science, enabling the direct imaging of molecular structures. Although some materials have remarkable stability under electron beams, most HRTEM studies are limited by the electron dose the sample can handle. Beam damage of conjugated polymers is not yet fully understood, but it has been suggested that the diffusion of secondary reacting species may play a role. As such, we examine the effect of the addition of antioxidants to a series of solution-processable conjugated polymers as an approach to mitigating beam damage. Characterizing the effects of beam damage by calculating critical dose DC values from the decay of electron diffraction peaks shows that beam damage of conjugated polymers in the TEM can be minimized by using antioxidants at room temperature, even if the antioxidant does not alter or incorporate into polymer crystals. As a consequence, the addition of antioxidants pushes the resolution limit of polymer microscopy, enabling imaging of a 3.6 Å lattice spacing in poly[(5,6-difluoro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4,7-diyl)-alt-(3,3″'-di(2-octyldodecyl)-2,2';5',2″;5″,2″'-quaterthiophene-5,5″'-diyl)] (PffBT4T-2OD).

Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione-based conjugated polymers for organic solar cells

Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) based conjugated polymers as an electron donor, acceptor and single-component for application in organic solar cells in the past ten years have been intensively reviewed in this Feature Article.

Conjugated copolymers bearing 2,7-dithienylphenanthrene-9,10-dialkoxy units: highly soluble and stable deep-blue emissive materials

Excellent yields, high stability and solubility. M_w = 36.5–152.0 kDa and Đ = 2.5–3.0. Deep-blue emission with quantum yields up to 17%.