Review
Polymer Science
Ze-Fan Yao, Jie-Yu Wang, Jian Pei
Summary: This review focuses on the formation, behavior, and evolution of solution-state aggregation of conjugated polymers, exploring their influence on the solid-state morphology and microstructure, and ultimately elucidating the relationship between microstructure and properties of conjugated polymers.
PROGRESS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Seong Hyeon Kim, Hyunwoo Yook, Woong Sung, Jinhyeok Choi, Hyungsub Lim, Sein Chung, Jeong Woo Han, Kilwon Cho
Summary: Chemical doping can be used to tune the optoelectronic properties of conjugated polymers (CPs), but it often results in an increase in energetic disorder which hinders efficient charge transport. In this study, it is discovered that the energetic disorder in chemically doped CPs can be suppressed to a level close to the theoretical limit. By doping Indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole (IDTBT) with triethyloxonium hexachloroantimonate (OA), disorder-free charge-transport characteristics and band-like transport behavior with high carrier mobility can be achieved.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jongbok Lee, Shi Li, Xiaozhou Ji, Sai Che, Yirui Cao, Daniel P. Tabor, Lei Fang
Summary: This study investigates the factors affecting the doping mechanism of organic semiconductors using neutral dopants. The results show that the extended, rigid, and coplanar pi-faces play a crucial role in the doping interaction. This work provides principles for the molecular design of organic semiconductors and dopants.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingfei Xiao, Aditya Sadhanala, Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi, Tudor H. Thomas, Xinglong Ren, Tao Zhang, Hu Chen, Remington L. Carey, Qijing Wang, Satyaprasad P. Senanayak, Cameron Jellett, Ada Onwubiko, Maximilian Moser, Hailiang Liao, Wan Yue, Iain McCulloch, Mark Nikolka, Henning Sirringhaus
Summary: The glass transition temperature (T-g) of a range of conjugated polymers with different crystallinity levels was determined using dynamical mechanical analysis. The comparison between measured and theoretically predicted T-g values revealed that the consistency is influenced by the length of monomer units and sub-bandgap optical absorption.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liyang Yu, Egon Pavlica, Ruipeng Li, Yufei Zhong, Carlos Silva, Gvido Bratina, Christian Muller, Aram Amassian, Natalie Stingelin
Summary: Semiconducting mesocrystalline bulk polymer specimens with near-intrinsic properties were successfully demonstrated using channel-die pressing method. The persistent mesocrystalline arrangement at macroscopic scales allowed reliable evaluation of electronic charge-transport anisotropy along all three crystallographic axes, with high mobilities found along the pi-stacking. The versatile approach showed promise as a straightforward, readily scalable method to fabricate bulk semiconducting polymer structures with properties typically only accessible by the tedious growth of single crystals.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yan-Cheng Lin, Megumi Matsuda, Chun-Kai Chen, Wei-Chen Yang, Chu-Chen Chueh, Tomoya Higashihara, Wen-Chang Chen
Summary: In this study, three NDI-based random terpolymers were synthesized by introducing functionalized conjugation break spacers (CBSs) with ester, sulfone, and amide groups to improve the stretchability of N-type semiconducting polymers. It was found that polymers with ester and amide-based CBSs exhibited better electron mobility performance during stretching and could retain a high mu(e) retention rate. This research provides insights into the mobility-stretchability properties of N-type semiconducting polymers for potential applications in intrinsically stretchable and wearable electronics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qi-Yi Li, Ze-Fan Yao, Hao-Tian Wu, Longfei Luo, Yi-Fan Ding, Chi-Yuan Yang, Xin-Yi Wang, Zhihao Shen, Jie-Yu Wang, Jian Pei
Summary: This study presents a strategy for achieving efficient charge transport and high doping compatibility in n-doped conjugated polymers. By using disorder side-chains, the issue of compatibility is addressed, allowing for the accommodation of molecular dopants without compromising the original chain packing and charge transport channels.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cheng Zhou, Geraldine W. N. Chia, Ken-Tye Yong
Summary: By mimicking the structure of lipid bilayers, membrane-intercalating conjugated oligoelectrolytes (MICOEs) have the ability to spontaneously insert themselves into both synthetic lipid bilayers and biological membranes. The modular design of MICOEs allows for a wide range of applications in bioproduction, biocatalysis, biosensing, and therapeutics. This review provides insights into the structural evolution and molecular design principles of MICOEs, as well as discussing their potential as unconventional and value-added materials for biological systems.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin-Yi Wang, Zi-Di Yu, Yang Lu, Ze-Fan Yao, Yang-Yang Zhou, Chen-Kai Pan, Yi Liu, Zi-Yuan Wang, Yi-Fan Ding, Jie-Yu Wang, Jian Pei
Summary: The density of states (DOS) distribution of conjugated polymers was engineered by tailoring the solvent used for film preparation, leading to enhanced electrical performances.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
J. Charlie Maier, Nicholas E. Jackson
Summary: The study combines a Markov process treatment of copolymer sequence correlations with electron transport models to investigate how the conjugated copolymer sequence influences electronic mobility. The results show that within the delocalized polaron hopping and electronically coherent transport regimes, electronic mobility is a nonmonotonic function of the sequence correlation parameter, with alternating and blocky copolymer sequences exhibiting higher mobility compared to random sequences.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhizheng Zhao, Weiwei Huan, Chen Sun, Mohamed E. El-Khouly, Bin Zhang, Yu Chen
Summary: The azulene-based conjugated polymer, PAV, exhibits proton-gated and electrical-gated changes in its conductivity. The unique behavior of PAV is attributed to the direct formation of azulenium cation radicals.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Lu, Jie-Yu Wang, Jian Pei
Summary: Molecular doping is a central proposition in organic electronics, involving intermolecular charge transfer between organic conjugated materials and molecular dopants. While there is a focus on improving p-doping efficiency and electrical conductivity, the development of n-type molecular doping lags behind. Efficient p- and n-type molecular doping are both essential for organic electronic devices, emphasizing the need to achieve efficient n-doping in conjugated polymers.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Scott P. O. Danielsen, Colin R. Bridges, Rachel A. Segalman
Summary: The chain conformations of conjugated polymers, which are important for their optoelectronic properties, have been studied using small-angle neutron scattering. It was found that the persistence lengths of the polymers depend on their molecular structures, particularly the size and branching of pendant side chains. The measured persistence lengths were in agreement with those calculated using density functional theory. Moreover, longer persistence lengths were shown to be correlated with higher charge-carrier mobility, emphasizing the importance of rational molecular design for obtaining conjugated polymers with advantageous optoelectronic properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Toshiki Sakata, Ken-ichi Saitow
Summary: The orientation of polymers greatly affects their properties, but aggregates can disrupt these effects. A study using 4D microspectroscopy demonstrated the ability to distinguish between polymer chains and aggregates, providing more accurate material analysis.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rahul Venkatesh, Yulong Zheng, Campbell Viersen, Aaron Liu, Carlos Silva, Martha Grover, Elsa Reichmanis
Summary: Curating and analyzing centralized data repositories is a valuable approach in resolving the issue of reproducibility and gaining new insights in nanomaterials research. In this study, a customized classification algorithm was applied to processing information and mobility values of 115 DPP-DTT-based organic field effect transistors, leading to the identification of a reduced design region for polymer solution concentration likely to result in improved hole mobility. Experimental validation confirmed the significant influence of solution concentration on polymer chain excitonic interactions and electronic performance.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Daniele Parisi, Jiho Seo, Richard P. Schaake, Alicyn M. Rhoades, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: This study focuses on the shear-induced isotropic-nematic transition exhibited by PEEK melts, revealing a relationship between zero-shear viscosity and molecular weight. The shear-induced I-N transition is characterized by three distinct regimes in the flow curves, providing insights into this intriguing phenomenon.
PROGRESS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Deyang Yu, Xiaona Pan, Joshua E. Bostwick, Curt J. Zanelotti, Linqin Mu, Ralph H. Colby, Feng Lin, Louis A. Madsen
Summary: Molecular ionic composites (MICs) are a new type of rigid gel electrolyte that combine fast ion transport with high thermal stability and mechanical strength. These MIC membranes demonstrate stable cycling performance over a wide temperature range, making them suitable for use as solid electrolytes in lithium metal batteries operating in various temperature environments.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Daniele Parisi, Aijie Han, Jiho Seo, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: The study focused on the rheological response of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) melts, specifically looking at edge fracture and its correlation with zero-shear viscosity. Different experimental setups were used to measure properties like first normal stress difference and flow curves, providing valuable data for developing and testing molecular models. Viscosity of strongly polydisperse iPPs was found to scale with the -0.7 power of shear rate, while primary normal stress difference scaled with the square root of shear rate, revealing insights into the shear thinning behavior of iPPs.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Renxuan Xie, Sanjoy Mukherjee, Adam E. Levi, Jeffrey L. Self, Hengbin Wang, Michael L. Chabinyc, Christopher M. Bates
Summary: The study examined the linear-viscoelastic and yield-stress fluid behavior of two block copolymer architectures and their self-assembled structures. It was found that block copolymers forming body-centered cubic structures exhibit smaller yield strains, sharper solid-liquid transitions, and better reversibility compared to those forming hexagonally close-packed cylinders. Additionally, a power-law relationship was established for the normalized structural modulus dependence on inter-micelle distance across different architectures and morphologies.
Article
Polymer Science
Anton Mordvinkin, Diana Doehler, Wolfgang H. Binder, Ralph H. Colby, Kay Saalwaechter
Summary: The study found that star-shaped molecules form more time-stable networks with larger and somewhat more distantly arranged aggregates compared to their linear counterparts. Using stickers providing less hydrogen bonds speeds up terminal flow significantly.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiho Seo, Xiaoshi Zhang, Richard P. Schaake, Alicyn M. Rhoades, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: The study introduces the dual Nakamura model to capture primary and secondary crystallization kinetics of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK). Monitoring non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of PEEK at five constant cooling rates, the dual Nakamura model successfully describes the final stage of crystallization by reducing the crystal growth dimension.
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Mechanics
Ralph H. Colby
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Joshua E. Bostwick, Curt J. Zanelotti, Deyang Yu, Nicholas F. Pietra, Teague A. Williams, Louis A. Madsen, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: Molecular ionic composites (MICs) are a new class of solid electrolytes that combine ionic liquids (ILs) and a rigid-rod double helical polyelectrolyte, showing excellent mechanical properties and high ionic conductivities. The broad range of moduli and high tensile to shear modulus ratio in MICs are attributed to the distribution of PBDT chains and strong ionic interactions between IL ions and PBDT chains.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Abigail M. Fenton, Renxuan Xie, Melissa P. Aplan, Youngmin Lee, Michael G. Gill, Ryan Fair, Fabian Kempe, Michael Sommer, Chad R. Snyder, Enrique D. Gomez, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: The relationship between Kuhn length, Kuhn monomer volume, and plateau modulus for flexible polymers has a gap in experimental data. Conjugated polymers with a combination of backbone and side chains are ideal materials to study this crossover region. We have shown that certain polymers with aromatic backbones populate a large part of this gap and exhibit nematic ordering.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Aijie Han, Veera Venkata Shravan Uppala, Daniele Parisi, Christy George, Benjamin J. Dixon, Camila Denise Ayala, Xiuli Li, Louis A. Madsen, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: Chain dynamics in the semidilute unentangled regime can be used to determine the molecular weight of polyelectrolytes. Four methods, including measurements of correlation length, specific viscosity, relaxation time, and diffusion coefficient, enable determination of the number density of chains. Different narrow dispersity cesium polystyrene sulfonate solutions in various solvents were studied to test these methods. The weight-average molecular weight can be obtained by combining viscosity and correlation length, while the number-average molecular weight can be reliably determined by combining diffusion coefficient and correlation length in water. Glycerol slows relaxation dynamics and the shear rate dependence of viscosity provides reliable relaxation time for higher molecular weight chains. The terminal modulus correlates with the ratio of weight-average molecular weight to the product of z-average and z + 1 average molecular weight.
Article
Mechanics
Daniele Parisi, Colin D. Ditillo, Aijie Han, Seth Lindberg, Mark W. Hamersky, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: In this study, intrinsic viscosity and flow curve measurements on industrial poly(vinyl alcohol) samples in water and DMSO were reported. The aqueous solutions exhibited features of associative polymers, while chain-chain associations were prevented in DMSO. Comparing solutions in both solvents at the same concentration allowed for the measurement of time delay due to associations.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Xiaoshi Zhang, Jason D. Alexander, Jiho Seo, Anne M. Gohn, Matthew J. Behary, Richard P. Schaake, Ralph H. Colby, Alicyn M. Rhoades
Summary: The interior structure of PEEK composite pellets was reconstructed using ultra-high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and different slicing methods were analyzed. For samples with thickness less than 50μm, PEEK samples sliced perpendicular to the fiber flow direction showed good filler homogeneity and lower coefficient of variation compared to samples sliced along the fiber flow direction. This conclusion was supported by further studies on the crystallization kinetics of PEEK and its composites.
THERMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jeffrey L. Self, Veronica G. Reynolds, Jacob Blankenship, Erin Mee, Jiaqi Guo, Kaitlin Albanese, Renxuan Xie, Craig J. Hawker, Javier Read de Alaniz, Michael L. Chabinyc, Christopher M. Bates
Summary: A new class of supersoft, conductive composites comprising carbon nanotubes embedded in bottlebrush polymer networks has been reported. These materials are significantly softer than comparable composites and possess typical conductivity. The presence of dynamic polyester bonds in the bottlebrush matrix chemistry allows for thermal (re)processing.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wenwen Mei, Deyang Yu, Christy George, Louis A. Madsen, Robert J. Hickey, Ralph H. Colby
Summary: Maximizing ion conduction in single-ion-conducting ionomers is crucial for energy-related technologies. Understanding the impact of anion chemical composition on ion conduction emphasizes the necessity of minimizing ion aggregation through the rational choice of anion chemical composition.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)