Complementary Hydrogen─Bonded Functionalized Mixed Conducting Terpolymers for High-Performance n-type Organic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Organic Electronics

Background:

• High-performing n-type organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are essential for wearable bioelectronics.
• Organic mixed ion-electron conductors (OMIECs) require efficient mixed conduction and biological functionality.
• Self-healing OMIECs have been challenging due to limited synthetic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop self-healing polymeric mixed conductors for high-performing OECTs and inverters.
• To demonstrate the use of dynamic hydrogen bonds in polymer backbones for enhanced properties.
• To introduce a cost-effective method for improving OECT performance.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of dynamic cross-linked hydrogen bonds into polymer backbones.
• Fabrication and characterization of OECTs and inverters using the novel polymers.
• Post-processing via side chain removal and solvent vapor/annealing treatment for self-healing.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the first self-healing polymeric mixed conductors.
• Achieved a mixed conducting figure of merit (µC*) of 118 F cm^-1 V^-1 s^-1, three times higher than controls.
• Improved volumetric capacitance and electron mobility due to hydrogen bond-induced microstructure.
• High gain and self-healing capabilities in inverters demonstrated via solvent vapor exposure and annealing.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic hydrogen bonds in conjugated backbones enhance performance and enable self-healing.
• The developed materials advance wearable bioelectronics for practical applications.
• Cost-effective post-processing methods can maintain high OECT performance.