Soluble N-Type Ladder Copolymer for Corrosion-Free Device Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited solubility and corrosive nature of strong acidic solvents required for processing aromatic heterocyclic ladder polymers, such as BBL, hinder their use in devices like photovoltaic cells due to restricted fabrication and potential substrate corrosion.
Innovation Solution
Development of soluble n-type ladder copolymers with tetracarbonyl perylene and tetramino pyridine units, functionalized with solubilizing groups at specific positions, which enhance electro-chemical and thermal stability, and can be processed in non-corrosive solvents, combined with p-type materials to form heterojunction materials for electronic and photonic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If strong acidic solvents are used to process aromatic heterocyclic ladder polymers, then the polymer can be processed, but substrate corrosion occurs and fabrication is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of the polymer through functionalization with solubilizing groups (such as alkyl chains, alkoxy groups, or aromatic substituents) at specific positions of the ladder polymer backbone. This structural modification changes the solubility parameters of the polymer, enabling it to dissolve in non-corrosive solvents like chloroform, dichloromethane, or toluene, thereby eliminating substrate corrosion while maintaining processability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces solubilizing groups as intermediary structures that mediate between the inherently insoluble ladder polymer backbone and the solvent system. These functional groups act as intermediaries that provide solubility without requiring strong acidic conditions, thus preventing substrate corrosion while enabling solution processing through conventional solvents
2Ease of manufacture
If strong acidic solvents are used to process ladder polymers, then the polymer can be processed, but the corrosive nature hinders device fabrication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymer by introducing solubilizing functional groups that alter its interaction with solvents. This allows the polymer to be processed in mild, non-corrosive solvents, eliminating the harmful corrosive nature while maintaining ease of manufacture through solution processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the inherent insolubility of the ladder polymer (which would otherwise require corrosive solvents) into a benefit by introducing solubilizing groups. This transformation allows the polymer to be processed in benign solvents, turning the original processing difficulty into an advantage of improved safety and device compatibility
3Ease of manufacture
If solubilizing groups are added to enhance solubility, then processability improves, but the polymer structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing solubilizing groups at specific, targeted positions on the ladder polymer backbone rather than uniformly throughout the structure. By functionalizing specific sites (such as particular rings or positions on the fused ring system), the patent achieves solubility enhancement with minimal structural complexity increase, maintaining the core ladder architecture while adding localized functional features
Data Source
AI summary
A n-type ladder copolymer including, a n-type ladder copolymer formed with alternating perylene and pyridine units having chemical structure A having two end groups, where perylene units having at least one solubilizing group attaching at position(s) 1, 6, 7, and/or 12, where R1, R2, R3, and R4 solubilizing group(s) are each independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, alkyl aryl, alkoxy aryl, and aryloxy aryl, and where n repeat units ranging from about 4 to about 400