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Improved Self-Assembly of P3HT with Pyrene-Functionalized Methacrylates
Taniya M S K Pathiranage1, Ziyuan Ma1, Chinthaka M Udamulle Gedara1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States.
ACS Omega
|October 25, 2021
Summary
A new block copolymer combines discotic liquid crystals with poly(3-hexylthiophene) for enhanced charge transport in organic electronics. This synthesis uses efficient ICAR-ATRP, improving purity and yield.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Block copolymers are crucial for advanced materials, offering tunable properties.
- Discotic liquid crystals and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) are promising for organic electronics.
- Efficient synthesis of well-defined block copolymers is essential for performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a novel block copolymer integrating a discotic liquid crystalline mesogen with regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT).
- To investigate the impact of this block copolymer on charge transport properties in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs).
- To characterize the self-assembly and thermotropic behavior of the synthesized block copolymer.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis via Grignard Metathesis Polymerization (GRIM) for rr-P3HT and end-group modification.
- Initiators for Continuous Activator Regeneration Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ICAR-ATRP) for the discotic mesogen block.
- Characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), OFET device fabrication and testing, Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy (TMAFM), Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of P3HT-b-poly(PyMA) block copolymer with enhanced purity and yield due to ICAR-ATRP.
- XRD data indicates improved π-π stacking and P3HT block alignment facilitated by pyrene units.
- OFETs fabricated with the block copolymer exhibit field-effect mobilities up to 10^-2 cm^2 V^-1 s^-1, demonstrating enhanced charge transport.
- TMAFM reveals uniform microdomain formation, suggesting unique packing in the block copolymer.
- POM and DSC confirm thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior of the poly(PyMA) block and the block copolymer.
Conclusions:
- The novel P3HT-b-poly(PyMA) block copolymer exhibits enhanced charge transport properties.
- The combination of discotic liquid crystalline mesogens and P3HT offers a promising strategy for next-generation organic electronic materials.
- Efficient ICAR-ATRP enables high-purity synthesis, facilitating improved material performance.
