Chalcogen-Containing Donor-Acceptor Polymers for Organic Transistors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing donor-acceptor copolymers for organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) face challenges in achieving high charge carrier mobility due to limitations in structural order and energetic disorder.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel compounds comprising collinear π-electron rich and π-electron deficient moieties, with enhanced planarity due to non-covalent intramolecular short-contacts, particularly utilizing large chalcogen atoms in π-electron deficient units to improve interaction and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If donor-acceptor copolymers are designed with conventional structural modifications (extending donor unit, modifying acceptor unit, varying substituents), then structural diversity is improved, but charge carrier mobility remains limited due to energetic disorder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of chalcogen atom type (O, S, Se, Te) in the acceptor unit to systematically control intermolecular interactions. This parameter change leads to different degrees of planarity and stacking arrangements, directly affecting charge carrier mobility while maintaining structural diversity through a unified design strategy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite structures by combining π-electron rich donor units with π-electron deficient acceptor units containing chalcogen atoms. This donor-acceptor composite approach enables tailored intermolecular interactions through the chalcogen atom's size and electronegativity, resolving the contradiction between structural diversity and charge transport performance
2Stability of the object's composition
If homopolymers with high crystallinity are used, then long-range structural order is improved promoting charge transport, but device performance is limited compared to D-A copolymers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating amorphous regions with locally optimized planar conformations through chalcogen-containing acceptor units. The chalcogen atoms induce local planarity and favorable stacking arrangements that enhance charge transport without requiring long-range crystalline order, thus improving device performance while maintaining processability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by designing D-A copolymers that achieve high mobility through amorphous microstructures rather than crystalline order. Instead of relying on long-range structural organization, the invention uses local conformational uniformity and reduced energetic disorder to enhance charge carrier transport
3Ease of manufacture
If D-A copolymers with amorphous microstructures are designed, then processability is improved, but charge transport relies heavily on intermolecular stacking rather than intramolecular backbone transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar conjugation to three-dimensional stacking arrangements controlled by chalcogen atom size. The chalcogen atoms (O, S, Se, Te) create different vertical stacking distances and orientations, enabling efficient intermolecular charge transport in the third dimension while maintaining amorphous microstructures for ease of manufacture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These compounds exhibit improved charge mobility in OTFTs, with specific polymers like IDT-BS demonstrating saturation mobility values up to 2 cm2 V−1 s−1, attributed to reduced energetic disorder and enhanced structural order.
Implementation Method 1
enhanced planarity due to non-covalent intramolecular short-contacts
Data Source
AI summary
Novel compounds comprising x-conjugated moicties are disclosed, as well as their uses as semiconducting materials. The novel compounds comprise adjacent x-electron rich and x-electron deficient moieties. The novel compounds exhibit improved charge mobility and are particularly suited to use in electronic devices and components, such as organic thin film transistors.