Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast
The optoelectronic landscape of conjugated polymers is intimately related to their molecular arrangement and packing, with minute changes in local order, such as chain conformation and torsional backbone order/disorder, frequently having a substantial effect on macroscopic properties. While many of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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ACS Publications
2019
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| _version_ | 1826290737022500864 |
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| author | Dyson, M Lariou, E Martin, J Li, R Erothu, H Wantz, G Topham, P Dautel, O Hayes, S Stavrinou, P Stingelin, N |
| author_facet | Dyson, M Lariou, E Martin, J Li, R Erothu, H Wantz, G Topham, P Dautel, O Hayes, S Stavrinou, P Stingelin, N |
| author_sort | Dyson, M |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The optoelectronic landscape of conjugated polymers is intimately related to their molecular arrangement and packing, with minute changes in local order, such as chain conformation and torsional backbone order/disorder, frequently having a substantial effect on macroscopic properties. While many of these local features can be manipulated via chemical design, the synthesis of a series of compounds is often required to elucidate correlations between chemical structure and macromolecular ordering. Here, we show that blending semiconducting polymers with insulating commodity plastics enables controlled manipulation of the semiconductor backbone planarity. The key is to create a polarity difference between the semiconductor backbone and its side chains, while matching the polarity of the side chains and the additive. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach through judicious comparison of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with two of its more polar derivatives, namely the diblock copolymer poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT-b-PEO) and the graft polymer poly[3-but(ethylene oxide)thiophene] (P3BEOT), as well as their blends with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Proximity between polar side chains and a similarly polar additive reduces steric hindrance between individual chain segments by essentially “expelling” the side chains away from the semiconducting backbones. This process, shown to be facilitated via exposure to polar environments such as humid air/water vapor, facilitates backbone realignment toward specific chain arrangements and, in particular, planar backbone configurations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:48:46Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:acf2372d-c778-46c0-a0db-a263e06c4fec |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:48:46Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | ACS Publications |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:acf2372d-c778-46c0-a0db-a263e06c4fec2022-03-27T03:32:13ZManaging local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrastJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:acf2372d-c778-46c0-a0db-a263e06c4fecEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordACS Publications2019Dyson, MLariou, EMartin, JLi, RErothu, HWantz, GTopham, PDautel, OHayes, SStavrinou, PStingelin, NThe optoelectronic landscape of conjugated polymers is intimately related to their molecular arrangement and packing, with minute changes in local order, such as chain conformation and torsional backbone order/disorder, frequently having a substantial effect on macroscopic properties. While many of these local features can be manipulated via chemical design, the synthesis of a series of compounds is often required to elucidate correlations between chemical structure and macromolecular ordering. Here, we show that blending semiconducting polymers with insulating commodity plastics enables controlled manipulation of the semiconductor backbone planarity. The key is to create a polarity difference between the semiconductor backbone and its side chains, while matching the polarity of the side chains and the additive. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach through judicious comparison of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with two of its more polar derivatives, namely the diblock copolymer poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT-b-PEO) and the graft polymer poly[3-but(ethylene oxide)thiophene] (P3BEOT), as well as their blends with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Proximity between polar side chains and a similarly polar additive reduces steric hindrance between individual chain segments by essentially “expelling” the side chains away from the semiconducting backbones. This process, shown to be facilitated via exposure to polar environments such as humid air/water vapor, facilitates backbone realignment toward specific chain arrangements and, in particular, planar backbone configurations. |
| spellingShingle | Dyson, M Lariou, E Martin, J Li, R Erothu, H Wantz, G Topham, P Dautel, O Hayes, S Stavrinou, P Stingelin, N Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
| title | Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
| title_full | Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
| title_fullStr | Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
| title_full_unstemmed | Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
| title_short | Managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
| title_sort | managing local order in conjugated polymer blends via polarity contrast |
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