Molecular crystals capable of colossal thermal expansion (TE) are fascinating owing to their substantial and continuous volume changes and reasonably linear responses to temperature. This makes them promising candidates for micromachine applications. Macroscopic motion is driven by subtle yet cooperative movements of molecules that respond to the thermal motions of dynamic functional units.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe asymmetric monochlorination strategy not only effectively addresses the steric issues in conventional dichlorination but also enables the development of promising acceptor units and semiregioregular polymers. Herein, monochlorinated isoindigo (1CIID) is successfully designed and synthesized by selectively introducing single chlorine (Cl) atoms. Furthermore, the 1CIID copolymerizes with two donor counterparts, centrosymmetric 2,2'-bithiophene (2T) and axisymmetric 4,7-di(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole (DTBT), forming two polymers, P1CIID-2T and P1CIID-DTBT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe morphology of conjugated polymer thin films, determined by the kinetics of film drying, is closely correlated with their electrical properties. Herein, we focused on dramatic changes in the thin-film morphology of blade-coated poly{[,'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]--5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} caused by the effect of solvent and coating temperature. Through in situ measurements, the evolution of polymer aggregates and crystallites, which plays a decisive role in the formation of the charge-transport pathway, was observed in real time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrganic photosensitizers have been investigated as effective light-sensing elements that can promote strong absorption with high field-effect mobility in organic phototransistors (OPTs). In this study, a novel organic photosensitizer is synthesized to demonstrate broad-band photoresponse with enhanced electrical performance. An unsymmetrical small molecule of a solubilizing donor (D)-acceptor (A)-dye donor (D) type connected with a twisted conjugation system is designed for broad-band detection (ranging from 250 to 700 nm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNewly synthesized donor-acceptor (D-A) type of conjugated copolymer (PCTV-BTzF) with semi-fluorinated alkyl side chains, which has good solubility in common organic solvents, is described. Unlike polymers with hydrocarbon-based alkyl side chains, semi-fluorocabonated polymer leads to intriguing results. First, the self-organization behavior of the semi-fluoroalkyl side chains by the self-aggregate propensity between hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon induces patterned microstructural morphology in polymer films; second, it dominates the molecular orientation of polymers with planar back structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo novel conjugated polymers incorporating quinoidal thiophene are successfully synthesized. By combining 1D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 2D nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy analyses, the isomeric form of the major quinoid monomer is clearly identified as the asymmetric Z, E-configuration. The quinoidal polymers are synthesized via Stille polymerization with thiophene or bithiophene.
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