KES5-0123
Beyond Processability: Cleavable Side Chain Conjugated Polymers for Organic Electronics
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
10:20 - 10:45
Presenter(s)
Wei You (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Conjugated polymers typically contain long side chains to enable solution processing; however, these side chains contribute little to the desired optoelectronic properties of the resulting thin-film devices. Furthermore, because side chains can account for up to 50% of the mass of the final thin film, they often lower the glass transition temperature (Tg) of conjugated polymers, leading to issues such as the morphological instability of bulk heterojunction solar cells.
This talk will discuss our recent progress in developing cleavable side chain conjugated polymers (CSCPs) for a range of organic electronic applications. CSCPs enable solution processing into thin films while allowing the side chains to be removed upon exposure to external stimuli (e.g., heat or acid). Through the rational design of CSCPs, we have achieved stable polymer solar cells, stretchable and durable multifunctional sensors, unusually high electrical conductivities in doped conjugated polymers, and near-unity doping efficiency in organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors (OMIECs).
This talk will discuss our recent progress in developing cleavable side chain conjugated polymers (CSCPs) for a range of organic electronic applications. CSCPs enable solution processing into thin films while allowing the side chains to be removed upon exposure to external stimuli (e.g., heat or acid). Through the rational design of CSCPs, we have achieved stable polymer solar cells, stretchable and durable multifunctional sensors, unusually high electrical conductivities in doped conjugated polymers, and near-unity doping efficiency in organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors (OMIECs).
