Tuning Conjugated Polymer Chain Packing for Stretchable Semiconductors

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Organic Electronics

Background:

• Stretchable electronics require polymer semiconductors that can deform without damage.
• Existing stretchable conjugated polymers often rely on specific semicrystalline packing structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for improving the mechanical stretchability of polymer semiconductors.
• To investigate the role of molecular additives in controlling polymer semiconductor packing and performance.

Main Methods:

• Modification of polymer semiconductor packing structure using dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as a molecular spacer.
• Disruption of crystalline packing by inserting DOP between amorphous chain networks.
• Fabrication and testing of stretchable transistors using the modified polymer.

Main Results:

• DOP addition suppressed large-crystal growth and promoted short-range polymer aggregations.
• Achieved improved mechanical stretchability up to 100% strain without affecting charge-carrier transport.
• Observed strain-induced chain alignment and crystallization due to reduced intermolecular interactions.
• Developed stretchable transistors with anisotropic charge-carrier mobilities and stable current output.

Conclusions:

• Molecular additive engineering of polymer semiconductors offers a viable route to enhance stretchability.
• The method provides a pathway for creating robust, high-performance stretchable electronic devices.
• This approach maintains excellent charge transport properties essential for electronic applications.