Polymers

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rational Design of Novel Conjugated Terpolymers Based on Diketopyrrolopyrrole and Their Applications to Organic Thin-Film Transistors

by Shiwei Ren, Yubing Ding, Wenqing Zhang, Zhuoer Wang, Sichun Wang and Zhengran Yi

Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3803; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15183803 - 18 Sep 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1034

Abstract

Organic polymer semiconductor materials, due to their good chemical modifiability, can be easily tuned by rational molecular structure design to modulate their material properties, which, in turn, affects the device performance. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of materials based on terpolymer [...] Read more.

Organic polymer semiconductor materials, due to their good chemical modifiability, can be easily tuned by rational molecular structure design to modulate their material properties, which, in turn, affects the device performance. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of materials based on terpolymer structures and applied them to organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) device applications. The four polymers, obtained by polymerization of three monomers relying on the Stille coupling reaction, shared comparable molecular weights, with the main structural difference being the ratio of the thiazole component to the fluorinated thiophene (Tz/FS). The conjugated polymers exhibited similar energy levels and thermal stability; however, their photochemical and crystalline properties were distinctly different, leading to significantly varied mobility behavior. Materials with a Tz/FS ratio of 50:50 showed the highest electron mobility, up to 0.69 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our investigation reveals the fundamental relationship between the structure and properties of materials and provides a basis for the design of semiconductor materials with higher carrier mobility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Use of All-Acceptor Strategies for the Preparation of an Organic Semiconductor and the Realization of High Electron Transport Properties in Organic Field-Effect Transistors

by Shiwei Ren, Wenqing Zhang, Zhuoer Wang, Abderrahim Yassar, Zhiting Liao and Zhengran Yi

Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3392; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15163392 - 13 Aug 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1358

Abstract

The development of n-type organic semiconductor materials for transporting electrons as part of logic circuits is equally important to the development of p-type materials for transporting holes. Currently, progress in research on n-type materials is relatively backward, and the number of polymers with [...] Read more.

The development of n-type organic semiconductor materials for transporting electrons as part of logic circuits is equally important to the development of p-type materials for transporting holes. Currently, progress in research on n-type materials is relatively backward, and the number of polymers with high electron mobility is limited. As the core component of the organic field-effect transistor (OFET), the rational design and judicious selection of the structure of organic semiconductor materials are crucial to enhance the performance of devices. A novel conjugated copolymer with an all-acceptor structure was synthesized based on an effective chemical structure modification and design strategy. PDPPTT-2Tz was obtained by the Stille coupling of the DPPTT monomer with 2Tz-SnMe₃, which features high molecular weight and thermal stability. The low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of the copolymer was attributed to the introduction of electron-deficient bithiazole. DFT calculations revealed that this material is highly planar. The effect of modulation from a donor–acceptor to acceptor–acceptor structure on the improvement of electron mobility was significant, which showed a maximum value of 1.29 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and an average value of 0.81 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for electron mobility in BGBC-based OFET devices. Our results demonstrate that DPP-based polymers can be used not only as excellent p-type materials but also as promising n-type materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 35041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Light/Pressure Bifunctional Electronic Skin Based on a Bilayer Structure of PEDOT:PSS-Coated Cellulose Paper/CsPbBr₃ QDs Film

by Wenhao Li, Jingyu Jia, Xiaochen Sun, Sue Hao and Tengling Ye

Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2136; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15092136 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1279

Abstract

With the continuous development of electronic skin (e-skin), multifunctional e-skin is approaching, and in some cases even surpassing, the capabilities of real human skin, which has garnered increasing attention. Especially, if e-skin processes eye’s function, it will endow e-skins more powerful advantages, such [...] Read more.

With the continuous development of electronic skin (e-skin), multifunctional e-skin is approaching, and in some cases even surpassing, the capabilities of real human skin, which has garnered increasing attention. Especially, if e-skin processes eye’s function, it will endow e-skins more powerful advantages, such as the vision reparation, enhanced security, improved adaptability and enhanced interactivity. Here, we first study the photodetector based on CsPbBr₃ quantum dots film and the pressure sensor based on PEDOT: PSS-coated cellulose paper, respectively. On the base of these two kinds of sensors, a light/pressure bifunctional sensor was successfully fabricated. Finally, flexible bifunctional sensors were obtained by using a flexible interdigital electrode. They can simultaneously detect light and pressure stimulation. As e-skin, a high photosensitivity with a switching ratio of 168 under 405 nm light at a power of 40 mW/cm² was obtained and they can also monitor human motions in the meantime. Our work showed that the strategy to introduce perovskite photodetectors into e-skins is feasible and may open a new way for the development of flexible multi-functional e-skin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient All-Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Interface Engineering

by Guoping Zhang, Lihong Wang, Chaoyue Zhao, Yajie Wang, Ruiyu Hu, Jiaxu Che, Siying He, Wei Chen, Leifeng Cao, Zhenghui Luo, Mingxia Qiu, Shunpu Li and Guangye Zhang

Polymers 2022, 14(18), 3835; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14183835 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2153

Abstract

All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) are organic solar cells in which both the electron donor and the acceptor are polymers and are considered more promising in large-scale production. Thanks to the polymerizing small molecule acceptor strategy, the power conversion efficiency of all-PSCs has ushered [...] Read more.

All-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) are organic solar cells in which both the electron donor and the acceptor are polymers and are considered more promising in large-scale production. Thanks to the polymerizing small molecule acceptor strategy, the power conversion efficiency of all-PSCs has ushered in a leap in recent years. However, due to the electrical properties of polymerized small-molecule acceptors (PSMAs), the FF of the devices is generally not high. The typical electron transport material widely used in these devices is PNDIT-F3N, and it is a common strategy to improve the device fill factor (FF) through interface engineering. This work improves the efficiency of all-polymer solar cells through interfacial layer engineering. Using PDINN as the electron transport layer, we boost the FF of the devices from 69.21% to 72.05% and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 15.47% to 16.41%. This is the highest efficiency for a PY-IT-based binary all-polymer solar cell. This improvement is demonstrated in different all-polymer material systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Dibenzoquinoxalineimide-Based Wide-Bandgap Polymer Donor for Polymer Solar Cells

by Xin Wang, Zongtao Wang, Mingwei Li, Lijun Tu, Ke Wang, Dengping Xiao, Qiang Guo, Ming Zhou, Xianwen Wei, Yongqiang Shi and Erjun Zhou

Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3590; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14173590 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1975

Abstract

The molecular design of a wide-bandgap polymer donor is critical to achieve high-performance organic photovoltaic devices. Herein, a new dibenzo-fused quinoxalineimide (BPQI) is successfully synthesized as an electron-deficient building block to construct donor–acceptor (D–A)-type polymers, namely P(BPQI-BDT) and P(BPQI-BDTT), using benzodithiophene and its [...] Read more.

The molecular design of a wide-bandgap polymer donor is critical to achieve high-performance organic photovoltaic devices. Herein, a new dibenzo-fused quinoxalineimide (BPQI) is successfully synthesized as an electron-deficient building block to construct donor–acceptor (D–A)-type polymers, namely P(BPQI-BDT) and P(BPQI-BDTT), using benzodithiophene and its derivative, which bears different side chains, as the copolymerization units. These two polymers are used as a donor, and the narrow bandgap (2,20-((2Z,20Z)-((12,13-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,9-diundecyl-12,13-dihydro-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo [3,4-e]thieno[2,″30′:4′,50]thieno[20,30:4,5]pyrrolo[3,2g]thieno[20,30:4,5]thieno[3,2-b]indole-2,10 diyl)bis(methanylylidene))bis(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2,1-diylidene))dimalononitrile) Y6 is used as an acceptor to fabricate bulk heterojunction polymer solar cell devices. Y6, as a non-fullerene receptor (NFA), has excellent electrochemical and optical properties, as well as a high efficiency of over 18%. The device, based on P(BPQI-BDTT):Y6, showed power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 6.31% with a J_SC of 17.09 mA cm⁻², an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.82 V, and an FF of 44.78%. This study demonstrates that dibenzo-fused quinoxalineimide is a promising building block for developing wide-bandgap polymer donors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

27 pages, 17450 KiB

Open AccessReview

Emerging Robust Polymer Materials for High-Performance Two-Terminal Resistive Switching Memory

by Bixin Li, Shiyang Zhang, Lan Xu, Qiong Su and Bin Du

Polymers 2023, 15(22), 4374; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15224374 - 10 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1188

Abstract

Facing the era of information explosion and the advent of artificial intelligence, there is a growing demand for information technologies with huge storage capacity and efficient computer processing. However, traditional silicon-based storage and computing technology will reach their limits and cannot meet the [...] Read more.

Facing the era of information explosion and the advent of artificial intelligence, there is a growing demand for information technologies with huge storage capacity and efficient computer processing. However, traditional silicon-based storage and computing technology will reach their limits and cannot meet the post-Moore information storage requirements of ultrasmall size, ultrahigh density, flexibility, biocompatibility, and recyclability. As a response to these concerns, polymer-based resistive memory materials have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation information storage and neuromorphic computing applications, with the advantages of easy molecular design, volatile and non-volatile storage, flexibility, and facile fabrication. Herein, we first summarize the memory device structures, memory effects, and memory mechanisms of polymers. Then, the recent advances in polymer resistive switching materials, including single-component polymers, polymer mixtures, 2D covalent polymers, and biomacromolecules for resistive memory devices, are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of polymer memory materials and devices are discussed. Advances in polymer-based memristors will open new avenues in the design and integration of high-performance switching devices and facilitate their application in future information technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

40 pages, 17152 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Perovskite Nanocrystals as Fluorescent Probes in the Detection of Agriculture- and Food-Related Hazardous Substances

by Wei Zhao, Jianguo Zhang, Fanjun Kong and Tengling Ye

Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2873; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15132873 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1578

Abstract

Halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are a new kind of luminescent material for fluorescent probes. Compared with traditional nanosized luminescent materials, PNCs have better optical properties, such as high fluorescence quantum yield, tunable band gap, low size dependence, narrow emission bandwidth, and so on. [...] Read more.

Halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are a new kind of luminescent material for fluorescent probes. Compared with traditional nanosized luminescent materials, PNCs have better optical properties, such as high fluorescence quantum yield, tunable band gap, low size dependence, narrow emission bandwidth, and so on. Therefore, they have broad application prospects as fluorescent probes in the detection of agriculture- and food-related hazardous substances. In this paper, the structure and basic properties of PNCs are briefly described. The water stabilization methods, such as polymer surface coating, ion doping, surface passivation, etc.; are summarized. The recent advances of PNCs such as fluorescent probes for detecting hazardous substances in the field of agricultural and food are reviewed, and the detection effect and mechanism are discussed and analyzed. Finally, the problems and solutions faced by PNCs as fluorescent probes in agriculture and food were summarized and prospected. It is expected to provide a reference for further application of PNCs as fluorescent probes in agriculture and food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 12091 KiB

Open AccessReview

Defect Passivation Scheme toward High-Performance Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

by Bin Du, Kun He, Xiaoliang Zhao and Bixin Li

Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2010; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15092010 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4543

Abstract

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their simple manufacturing process, low cost, and high efficiency. So far, all efficient organic-inorganic halide PSCs are mainly made of polycrystalline perovskite films. There are transmission barriers and [...] Read more.

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their simple manufacturing process, low cost, and high efficiency. So far, all efficient organic-inorganic halide PSCs are mainly made of polycrystalline perovskite films. There are transmission barriers and high-density defects on the surface, interface, and grain boundary of the films. Among them, the deep-level traps caused by specific charged defects are the main non-radiative recombination centers, which is the most important factor in limiting the photoelectric conversion efficiency of PSCs devices to the Shockley-Queisser (S-Q) theoretical efficiency limit. Therefore, it is imperative to select appropriate passivation materials and passivation strategies to effectively eliminate defects in perovskite films to improve their photovoltaic performance and stability. There are various passivation strategies for different components of PSCs, including interface engineering, additive engineering, antisolvent engineering, dopant engineering, etc. In this review, we summarize a large number of defect passivation work to illustrate the latest progress of different types of passivators in regulating the morphology, grain boundary, grain size, charge recombination, and defect density of states of perovskite films. In addition, we discuss the inherent defects of key materials in carrier transporting layers and the corresponding passivation strategies to further optimize PSCs components. Finally, some perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of PSCs in future development are highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers/Their Hybrid Materials for Optoelectronic Applications)

► Show Figures