Issue 18, 2024

Trade-off between processability and device performance in donor–acceptor semiconductors revealed using discrete siloxane side chains

Abstract

Donor–acceptor polymeric semiconductors are crucial for state-of-the-art applications, such as electronic skin mimics. The processability, and thus solubility, of these polymers in benign solvents is critical and can be improved through side chain engineering. Nevertheless, the impact of novel side chains on backbone orientation and emerging device properties often remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigate the influence of elongated linear and branched discrete oligodimethylsiloxane (oDMS) side chains on solubility and device performance. Thereto, diketopyrrolopyrrole–thienothiophene polymers are equipped with various oDMS pendants (PDPPTT-Sin) and subsequently phase separated into lamellar domains. The introduction of a branching point in the siloxane significantly enhanced the solubility of the polymer, as a result of increased backbone distortion. Simultaneously, the charge carrier mobility of the polymers decreased by an order of magnitude upon functionalization with long and/or branched siloxanes. This work unveils the intricate balance between processability and device performance in organic semiconductors, which is key for the development of next-generation electronic devices.

Graphical abstract: Trade-off between processability and device performance in donor–acceptor semiconductors revealed using discrete siloxane side chains

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 mar 2024
Accepted
08 apr 2024
First published
24 apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 6637-6644

Trade-off between processability and device performance in donor–acceptor semiconductors revealed using discrete siloxane side chains

B. W. L. van den Bersselaar, E. H. W. Cattenstart, K. E. Elangovan, C. Yen-Chi, B. F. M. de Waal, J. van der Tol, Y. Diao, E. W. Meijer and G. Vantomme, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024, 12, 6637 DOI: 10.1039/D4TC00875H

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