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A Semi-Crystalline Polymer Semiconductor with Thin Film Stretchability Exceeding 200
Yejin Kim1, Hyungju Ahn2, Dahyeon Yoo1
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
Summary
Researchers developed a new polymer semiconductor that overcomes the trade-off between stretchability and crystallinity. Thermal annealing significantly enhances both properties, enabling high-performance stretchable electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Stretchable electronics require polymer semiconductors with both high charge-carrier mobility and excellent stretchability.
- A key challenge is the inverse relationship between crystallinity (improving mobility) and stretchability in these materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a polymer semiconductor that simultaneously enhances crystallinity and stretchability.
- To overcome the inherent limitations in designing high-performance intrinsically stretchable polymer semiconductors.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the effect of thermal annealing on polymer semiconductor thin films.
- Analyzed changes in thin film crystallinity and stretchability post-annealing.
- Measured charge-carrier (hole) mobility in the annealed films.
Main Results:
- Thermal annealing above the crystallization temperature significantly improved thin film stretchability to over 200%.
- Annealed films showed enhanced hole mobility of at least 0.2 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.
- Attributed improvements to a thermally-assisted structural phase transition forming edge-on crystallites and stronger interchain interactions.
Conclusions:
- Successfully demonstrated a method to concurrently improve crystallinity and stretchability in polymer semiconductors.
- Provided insights into overcoming the crystallinity-stretchability trade-off for advanced stretchable electronics.
- Facilitated the design of high-mobility, highly stretchable polymer semiconductors for future applications.
