Semiconducting donor–acceptor (D–A) polymers have attracted considerable attention toward the application of organic electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, a rational design rule for making semiconducting polymers with desired thermal and mechanical properties is currently lacking, which greatly limits the development of new polymers for advanced applications. Here, polydiketopyrrolopyrrole (PDPP)‐based D–A polymers with varied alkyl side‐chain lengths and backbone moieties are systematically designed, followed by investigating their thermal and thin film mechanical responses. The experimental results show a reduction in both elastic modulus and glass transition temperature (
The morphological stability of an organic photovoltaic (OPV) device is greatly affected by the dynamics of donors and acceptors occurring near the device's operational temperature. These dynamics can be quantified by the glass transition temperature (
- PAR ID:
- 10369853
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Macromolecular Rapid Communications
- Volume:
- 43
- Issue:
- 24
- ISSN:
- 1022-1336
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract T g) with increasing side‐chain length, which is further verified through coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulations. Informed from experimental results, a mass‐per‐flexible bond model is developed to capture such observation through a linear correlation betweenT gand polymer chain flexibility. Using this model, a wide range of backboneT gover 80 °C and elastic modulus over 400 MPa can be predicted for PDPP‐based polymers. This study highlights the important role of side‐chain structure in influencing the thermomechanical performance of conjugated polymers, and provides an effective strategy to design and predictT gand elastic modulus of future new D–A polymers. -
Abstract The glass transition temperature (
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