Organic Electrochemical Transistor Channel Materials: Copolymerization Versus Physical Mixing of Glycolated and Alkoxylated Polymers
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) feature a polymer channel capable of conducting both ions and electronic charges. The choice of the channel material is critical for OECT performance. Many efforts have focused on improving performance via the chemical tunability of conjugated polymers – through backbone, side chain, and molar mass engineering – leading to useful design principles for accumulation‐mode OECT materials. However, tuning the chemical structure of conjugated polymers often requires time‐consuming optimization of the synthesis route. Meanwhile, variations in molar mass, dispersity, structural defects, and metal content present challenges when attempting to analyze the detailed effects of structural modifications, as multiple performance‐determining factors are often (unintentionally) changed at the same time. Therefore, this study explores blended channel materials obtained by physically mixing glycolated and alkoxylated polymers in different ratios, and compares their OECT performance with the corresponding statistical copolymers. It is shown that mixing two well‐performing materials creates blends that enable rational tuning of the transistor properties without compromising on performance. Thus, channels based on blends of alkoxylated and glycolated polymers hold promise for OECT technology with tailored response, as only two materials are needed to achieve any desired side chain ratio, simplifying the optimization of OECT characteristics.
Source: Advanced Functional Materials
Language: English
Subfield: Polymers and Plastics
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,790
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Bern, European Commission, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Vlaamse regering, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Awards: G1229526393, G1286251239, G2371548206, Design and synthesis of organic semiconductors for near-infrared photodetection with bulk heterojunction organic cavity devices, Next-generation polymeric mixed ionic-electronic semiconductors for organic electrochemical transistors, G262532246, G303061748, G4235786860, G434337789, G495301720, G498139845, G5570207115, Understanding Electronic – Ionic Interactions for High-Performance and Stable Organic Electro-Chemical Transistors, G6550344761, G7283024673, Mixed Ionic and electronic Transport In Conjugated polymers for bioelectronicS, G8382000481, G8945569637, G911061179, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W4407233718