Controlling conformations of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated polymers: Role of torsional angle

Catherine Kanimozhi, Mallari Naik, Nir Yaacobi-Gross, Edmund K. Burnett, Alejandro L. Briseno, Thomas D. Anthopoulos, Satish Patil*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transport of charge carriers through conjugated polymers is strongly influenced by the presence and distribution of structural disorders. In the present work, structural defects caused by the presence of torsional angle were investigated in a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated polymer. Two new copolymers of DPP were synthesized with varying torsional angles to trace the role of structural disorder. The optical properties of these copolymers in solution and thin film reveal the strong influence of torsional angle on their photophysical properties. A strong influence was observed on carrier transport properties of polymers in organic field-effect transistors (OFET) device geometry. The polymers based on phenyl DPP with higher torsional angle (PPTDPP-OD-TEG) resulted in high threshold voltage with less charge carrier mobility as compared to the polymer based on thiophene DPP (2DPP-OD-TEG) bearing a lower torsional angle. Carrier mobility and the molecular orientation of the conjugated polymers were correlated on the basis of grazing incidence X-ray scattering measurements showing the strong role of torsional angle introduced in the form of structural disorder. The results presented in this Article provide a deep insight into the sensitivity of structural disorder and its impact on the device performance of DPP-based conjugated polymers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11536-11544
Number of pages9
JournalJOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
Volume118
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 5 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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