Green Synthesis of Lactone-Based Conjugated Polymers for n-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistors

• As new and better materials are implemented for organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), it becomes increasingly important to adopt more economic and environmentally friendly synthesis pathways with respect to conventional transition-metal-catalyzed polymerizations. Herein, a series of novel n-type donor–acceptor-conjugated polymers based on glycolated lactone and bis-isatin units are reported. All the polymers are synthesized via green and metal-free aldol polymerization. The strong electron-deficient lactone-building blocks provide low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the rigid backbone needed for efficient electron mobility up to 0.07 cm2 V−1 s−1. Instead, polar atoms in the backbone and ethylene glycol side chains contribute to the ionic conductivity. The resulting OECTs exhibit a normalized maximum transconductance gm,norm of 0.8 S cm−1 and a μC* of 6.7 F cm−1 V−1 s−1. Data on the microstructure show that such device performance originates from a unique porous morphology together with a highly disordered amorphous microstructure, leading to efficient ion-to-electron coupling. Overall, the design strategy provides an inexpensive and metal-free polymerization route for high-performing n-type OECTs. 

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Energiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Energy Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

conjugated polymer

green chemistry

n-type organic semiconductor

organic electrochemical transistor

sustainable design

Conjugated polymers

Ethylene

Ethylene glycol

Functional materials

Ketones

Microstructure

Molecular orbitals

Morphology

Polymerization

Transition metals

Based conjugated polymers

Catalyzed polymerization

Conventional transitions

Donor-acceptor conjugated polymers

Environmentally friendly synthesis

Green synthesis

Metal free

Metal-catalyzed

Organic electrochemical transistors

Synthesis pathways

Esters

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)