Issue 42, 2023

Tailoring the mechanical properties of benzothiadiazole-based semiconducting polymers through chalcogen atom substitution

Abstract

Benzothiadiazole (BT) is an organic heterocyclic compound characterized by a fused benzene and thiadiazole ring system with the ability to withdraw electrons due to the electronegative nitrogen and sulfur atoms in its structure. It is interesting as a building block for designing semiconducting donor–acceptor (D–A) copolymers, particularly remarkable candidates for organic electronics due to their optoelectronic properties, efficient charge transport capabilities, and good thermal stability. The versatility of BT allows for facile chemical modifications, enabling researchers to fine-tune the properties of semiconducting polymers and tailor their properties for specific application requirements. One strategy to unlock new possibilities and enhance the optoelectronic properties of BT-based polymers is through chalcogen substitution. By replacing the sulfur atom within the BT structure with heavier atoms such as selenium, which possesses stronger donating and polarizable properties, researchers can fine-tune the material's characteristics. However, the impact of extending the π-conjugated backbone and chalcogen atom substitution with a focus on the thermomechanical properties and molecular stretchability of D–A copolymers remains highly desirable in order to control their properties. In this work, a multimodal characterization strategy through various techniques was used to evaluate the properties of D–A copolymers prepared by co-polymerizing the 4,7-bis(5-bromo-4-octylthiophen-2-yl)-5,6-bis(octyloxy)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole acceptor unit with thiophene (P1), selenophene (P2), bithiophene (P3), and biselenophene (P4) as the donor units. Results showed that copolymers present lower Young's moduli, good performance in OFETs upon deformation, tunable charge transport, and suitable mechanical properties indicating their potential for emerging applications in stretchable organic semiconductors.

Graphical abstract: Tailoring the mechanical properties of benzothiadiazole-based semiconducting polymers through chalcogen atom substitution

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Jul 2023
Accepted
26 Sep 2023
First published
27 Sep 2023

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023,11, 14661-14670

Tailoring the mechanical properties of benzothiadiazole-based semiconducting polymers through chalcogen atom substitution

P. Kulatunga, M. Comí, T. C. Gomes, M. Seifi, R. Majidzadeh, M. Al-Hashimi and S. Rondeau-Gagné, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 14661 DOI: 10.1039/D3TC02386A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements