Multi-scale ordering in highly stretchable polymer semiconducting films
Journal
NAT MATER
Date
2019.04.15
Abstract
Stretchable semiconducting polymers have been developed as a key component to enable skin-like
wearable electronics, but their electrical performance (e.g. charge transport mobility) must be
improved for enabling more advanced functionalities. Here, we report a solution processing
approach that can achieve multi-scale ordering and alignment of conjugated polymers in
stretchable semiconductors to substantially improve their charge carrier mobility. Using solutionshearing
with a patterned microtrench coating blade, the macroscale alignment of stretchable
conjugated-polymer nanostructures was achieved along the charge transport direction.
Conjunctionally, the nanoconfinement effect further gives rise to an aligned chain conformation
and short-range π？π ordering, which significantly reduce the energetic barrier for charge carrier transport. As a result, the mobilities of five different stretchable conjugated-polymer films have been enhanced by up to six-fold. With extraordinary stretchability achieved at the same time, such improved mobilities in fully stretchable transistors can be maintained under strain up to 100 ％. This method can also serve as the basis for the large-area, industrial-scale manufacturing of stretchable semiconducting films, as demonstrated by the roll-to-roll coating of meter-scale films with such multi-scale ordering, and thus high performance.