Semiconducting Polymer Blend with Segmented Conjugation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conjugated polymers face challenges in solution-processability and charge transport due to high degrees of conformational and energetic disorder caused by flexible linkages, which limits their application in flexible and printed electronics, and they are not suitable for melt-processing or extrusion/lamination processing.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a non-conjugated semiconducting polymer matrix with crystalline aggregates and intentionally placed conjugation-break spacers, blended with a fully conjugated semiconducting polymer as tie chains to enhance charge transport and processability, allowing for the formation of semiconducting films through solution or melt-processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flexible linkages are introduced to improve solution-processability of conjugated polymers, then processability is enhanced, but charge transport deteriorates due to high degrees of conformational and energetic disorder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolution-processabilityVSAvoidcharge transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer chain is segmented into conjugated segments separated by flexible spacers. This segmentation allows the conjugated segments to maintain charge transport pathways while the flexible spacers provide solution-processability by reducing aggregation and improving solubility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the polymer chain have different properties: conjugated segments provide charge transport capability while flexible spacer segments provide solubility and processability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between charge transport and processability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If fully conjugated polymer structures are used to enhance charge transport, then charge carrier mobility improves, but processability deteriorates due to poor solution-processability and inability to undergo melt-processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge carrier mobilityVSAvoidprocessability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining conjugated segments for charge transport with flexible spacer segments for processability. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both high charge carrier mobility and good solution-processability or melt-processability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the degree of conjugation from continuous to segmented, and by adjusting the length and flexibility of spacer segments, the patent optimizes both charge transport properties and processing properties, enabling both solution and melt processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conjugation-break spacers are introduced to improve processability, then solution-processability and melt-processability are enhanced, but charge transport deteriorates due to disrupted π-electron delocalization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemelt-processabilityVSAvoidcharge transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer is segmented into conjugated units separated by short spacers. The segmentation is designed so that charge transport occurs efficiently within each conjugated segment and between segments through the spacers, while maintaining overall processability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of completely breaking conjugation with long spacers, the patent uses partial conjugation breakage with short spacers that maintain some electronic coupling. This partial action preserves sufficient charge transport while achieving the desired processability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10854819B2Methods and compositions for enhancing processability and charge transport of polymer semiconductors

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 PURDUE RES FOUND

AI summary

A method of making a solid state semiconducting film. The method includes blending a non-conjugated semiconducting polymer matrix containing crystalline aggregates with intentionally placed conjugation-break spacers along the polymer backbone, and fully conjugated semiconducting polymer. The resulting blend is subjected to a film making method to result is a semiconducting film. A solid state semiconducting film comprising a non-conjugated semiconducting polymer matrix containing crystalline aggregates with intentionally placed conjugation-break spacers along the polymer backbone, and a fully conjugated semiconducting polymer, wherein the fully conjugated semiconducting polymer serves as tie chains to bridge crystalline aggregates from the non-conjugated polymer matrix. Devices made from these semiconductor films.