Intrinsically Stretchable and Healable Polymer Semiconductors

In recent decades, polymer semiconductors, extensively employed as charge transport layers in devices like organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), have undergone thorough investigation due to their capacity for large-area solution processing, making them promising for mass production. Research efforts have been twofold: enhancing the charge mobilities of polymer semiconductors and augmenting their mechanical properties to meet the demands of flexible devices. Significant progress has been made in both realms, propelling the practical application of polymer semiconductors in flexible electronics. However, integrating excellent semiconducting and mechanical properties into a single polymer still remains a significant challenge. This review intends to introduce the design strategies and discuss the properties of high-charge mobility stretchable conjugated polymers. In addition, another key challenge faced in this cutting-edge field is maintaining stable semiconducting performance during long-term mechanical deformations. Therefore, this review also discusses the development of healable polymer semiconductors as a promising avenue to improve the lifetime of stretchable device. In conclusion, challenges and outline future research perspectives in this interdisciplinary field are highlighted.

Fabricating Industry-Compatible Olefin-Linked COF Resins for Oxoanion Pollutant Scavenging

Large-scale and low-cost synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to meet the demands of industrial application remains formidably challenge. Here we report using 2,4,6-collidine as monomer to produce a series of highly crystalline olefin-linked COFs by a melt polymerization method. This method enables the kilogram-scale fabrication of self-shaped monolithic robust foams. The afforded COFs possess extremely low cost (<50 USD/kg), superior to all the reported COFs. Furthermore, using one-pot or post-modification methods can conveniently transform neutral COFs to ionic COFs, which can be applied as highly efficient ion-exchange sorbents for scavenging oxoanion pollutants. Remarkably, the superior adsorption capacity of a model oxoanion (ReO₄ ^- ) is the highest among crystalline porous materials reported so far. This work not only expands the scopes of olefin-linked COFs but also enlightens the route for the industrial production of crystalline ion exchange sorbents.

An Asymmetric Furan/Thieno[3,2-b]Thiophene Diketopyrrolopyrrole Building Block for Annealing-Free Green-Solvent Processable Organic Thin-Film Transistors

A new asymmetric furan and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (TTFDPP) building block for conjugated polymers is designed and used to generate a donor-acceptor semiconducting polymer, poly[3-(furan-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-6-(thieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4(2H,5H)-dione-alt-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (abbreviated to PTTFDPP-TT), consisting of TTFDPP unit copolymerized with thieno[3,2-b]thiophene comonomer (TT), which is further synthesized. Results demonstrate that PTTFDPP-TT-based thin-film transistors in a bottom-gate bottom-contact device configuration exhibit typical hole-transporting property, with weak temperature dependence for charge carrier mobility from room temperature to 200 °C. In addition, the good solubility of PTTFDPP-TT due to the incorporation of a polar furan unit and an asymmetric conjugated structure makes it able to be solution processed with a less toxic nonchlorinated solvent such as toluene, demonstrating comparable performance with that prepared from chlorinated solution. These results suggest PTTFDPP-TT as a promising organic semiconductor candidate for annealing-free, environmentally benign, and less energy-consuming applications in large-area flexible organic electronic devices.

Synthesis of alternating D–A1–D–A2 terpolymers comprising two electron-deficient moieties, quinoxaline and benzothiadiazole units for photovoltaic applications

Two new regular (D–A1–D–A2) terpolymersP1andP2containing two electron-deficient moieties, quinoxaline and benzothiadiazole, were designed and synthesized.

Enhancing the photovoltaic performance of binary acceptor-based conjugated polymers incorporating methyl units

“Binary acceptors” conjugated polymers with methyl side units were found to provide high photocurrent and efficiency in solar cells due to the small crystal domain of polymers in blended thin films.

Synthesis of new D-A1–D-A2 type low bandgap terpolymers based on different thiadiazoloquinoxaline acceptor units for efficient polymer solar cells

Two low bandgap D-A1–D-A2 conjugated (with/without fluorine substitution) copolymers, with benzothiadiazole and thiadiazoloquinoxaline acceptors, were used to fabricate BHJ polymer solar cells that achieved up to 7.21% power conversion efficiency.