Narrow Band Gap Conjugated Polymers with Cross-Conjugated Donors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current conjugated polymers face challenges in tailoring structural and electronic properties to achieve narrow band gaps, limiting their ability to interact with a broader range of the electromagnetic spectrum and hindering the development of advanced electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Innovation Solution

The development of modular narrow band gap conjugated polymers incorporating exocyclic cross-conjugated substituents and novel monomer components, allowing for precise control of structural and electronic properties to achieve absorption profiles spanning from 0.7 μm to 8 μm, enabling interaction with a larger portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and new physical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional conjugated polymers are used, then manufacturing and processing are relatively simple, but the ability to tailor structural and electronic properties for narrow band gaps is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to tailor structural and electronic propertiesVSAvoidcomplexity of polymer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer is segmented into distinct donor and acceptor blocks, allowing independent optimization of each segment's electronic properties. This enables precise control over the overall band gap by selecting specific donor-acceptor combinations without requiring complex molecular structures throughout the entire polymer chain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite polymer structures combining electron-rich donor segments with electron-deficient acceptor segments. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit tailored electronic properties and narrow band gaps that cannot be achieved with homogeneous conjugated polymers, while maintaining processability through solution-based methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the band gap is reduced to extend absorption into NIR-SWIR regions, then absorption range is improved, but exciton lifetimes diminish due to exciton-phonon induced recombination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorption spectral rangeVSAvoidexciton lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies key parameters including the identity of donor and acceptor units, their sequence arrangement, and side chain configurations to optimize the balance between absorption range and exciton lifetime. By adjusting these parameters, the polymer achieves extended NIR-SWIR absorption while maintaining sufficient exciton lifetimes for device operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer structure incorporates local variations in electronic properties through alternating donor-acceptor segments with different energy levels. This local quality differentiation creates favorable energy offsets at interfaces that enhance exciton dissociation efficiency while the overall narrow band gap structure maintains broad absorption coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If modular donor-acceptor conjugated polymers are developed, then structural and electronic properties can be fine-tuned, but synthesis complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefine-tuning of propertiesVSAvoidsynthesis process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The modular polymer architecture divides the complex structure into standardized donor and acceptor building blocks that can be independently synthesized and then coupled through established polymerization methods. This segmentation enables systematic property tuning by mixing and matching different blocks without requiring de novo synthesis of entirely new polymer structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops universal donor and acceptor building blocks with standardized coupling sites that can be combined in various sequences and ratios to create polymers with different target properties. This universality simplifies the synthesis process by using common polymerization conditions and purification procedures across multiple polymer variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach enables the creation of polymers with intrinsic electrical conductivity and photoconductive devices operating in the infrared region, offering unprecedented opportunities for materials science research and applications in light harvesting, non-linear optics, and other emerging technologies.

Implementation Method 1

absorption profiles spanning from 0.7 μm to 8 μm, enabling interaction with a larger portion of the electromagnetic spectrum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

photoconductive devices operating in the infrared region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20220332870A1Narrow Band Gap Conjugated Polymers Employing Cross-Conjugated Donors Useful In Electronic Devices

Publication Date: 2022.10.20 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

The invention provides for new polymer compounds and methods for the preparation of modular narrow band gap conjugated compounds and polymers that incorporate exocyclic cross-conjugated donors or substituents, as well as novel monomer components of such polymers and the resulting products which comprise materials and useful electronic devices with novel functionality.