Tuning Solution‐State Aggregation for Shearing‐Induced Alignment and High Mobility Transport in Conjugated Polymers

Y Yu‐Chun Xu (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P.R. China) Y Yang‐Yang Zhou (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China) L Li Ding Y Yu‐Meng Gao (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China) X Xiao‐Yan Zhang (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China) Z Ze‐Fan Yao (Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education Center For Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China) J Jie‐Yu Wang (Beijing National Laboratory of Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 China) W Wen‐Bin Zhang (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P.R. China) J Jian Pei

Abstract

ABSTRACT Clarifying the evolution of solution‐state aggregation of conjugated polymers into ordered thin films under external forces remains one of the key issues in developing high‐performance polymer electronics. Here, a strategy is provided to tailor the polymer aggregation and their responsiveness to solution‐shearing forces by tuning intermolecular interactions, aiming for efficient charge transport. Using a typical n‐type conjugated polymer as the model system, we systematically modulate the balance between backbone–solvent and side chain–solvent interactions to design distinct aggregate structures. In the backbone‐selective solvent of 1‐chloronaphthalene, enhanced backbone solvation at elevated temperatures leads to loosely packed, rod‐like aggregates that align efficiently under directional shear, yielding highly ordered films with electron mobilities up to 4.74 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . In contrast, in the side‐chain‐selective solvent of trimethylbenzene, polymer chains form disordered network‐like aggregates that resist alignment and produce less ordered films with mobilities of 2.20 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Additionally, similar enhancements in charge‐transport mobility are also observed with two other representative polymers using the same strategy. This work establishes the critical role of intermolecular interaction‐driven aggregate design in dictating shearing‐induced structural evolution, offering a robust framework for the fabrication of high‐mobility conjugated polymer films.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 17
Published March 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

Y

Yu‐Chun Xu

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P.R. China

Y

Yang‐Yang Zhou

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China

L

Li Ding

Y

Yu‐Meng Gao

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China

X

Xiao‐Yan Zhang

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Center of Soft Matter Science and Engineering Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China

Z

Ze‐Fan Yao

Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education Center For Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China

J

Jie‐Yu Wang

Beijing National Laboratory of Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 China

W

Wen‐Bin Zhang

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P.R. China

J

Jian Pei