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One-Step Side-Chain Cleaving and In Situ Doping of Open-Shell Thermoelectric Polymers.
Yu Xu1,2, Fei Zhong1,2, Jian Song3
1State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|March 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel "cleaving and doping" method for open-shell polymers, enhancing thermoelectric performance. This strategy creates highly conductive and stable materials for energy applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Energy Science
Background:
- Open-shell conjugated polymers show potential for thermoelectric (TE) applications due to their unique structure.
- However, their performance is often hindered by structural disorder and sensitivity to air.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a strategy for creating highly conductive and stable side-chain-free open-shell polymers.
- To investigate the impact of a one-step cleaving and doping process on polymer properties.
Main Methods:
- A one-step "cleaving and doping" strategy was employed using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH).
- Solid films of three benzo[1,2-c;4,5-c\]bisthiadiazole (BBT)-based open-shell polymers (PBBTSi-T, PBBTSi-2T, PBBTSi-TVT) were treated with TfOH.
- This process simultaneously removed insulating silane side chains and doped the polymer backbone in situ.
Main Results:
- The treatment resulted in highly ordered molecular packing and efficient in-situ doping without external dopants.
- The side-chain-free PBBT-2T polymer achieved a maximum conductivity of 358.5 S cm-1 and a power factor of 41.4 µW m-1 K-2.
- These performance metrics are among the highest reported for open-shell polymers, with excellent air and thermal stability.
Conclusions:
- The developed one-step
- cleaving and doping
- strategy is a powerful approach for enhancing thermoelectric performance in open-shell polymers.
- This method effectively optimizes carrier mobility and concentration, leading to high conductivity and stability.
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