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Engineering semiconducting polymers for efficient charge transport

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2015

Scott Himmelberger
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
Alberto Salleo*
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
*
Address all correspondence to Alberto Salleo atasalleo@stanford.edu
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Abstract

Electronic performance in semiconducting polymers has improved dramatically in recent years owing to a host of novel materials and processing techniques. Our understanding of the factors governing charge transport in these materials has also been enhanced through advancements in both experimental and computational techniques, with disorder appearing to play a central role. In this prospective, we propose that disorder is an inextricable aspect of polymer morphology which need not be highly detrimental to charge transport if it is embraced and planned for. We discuss emerging guidelines for the synthesis of polymers which are resilient to disorder and present our vision for how future advances in processing and molecular design will provide a path toward further increases in charge-carrier mobility.

Type
Polymers/Soft Matter Prospective Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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