Facile Synthesis of Solubilizing a Group-Free, Solution-Processable p-Type Ladder Conjugated Polymer and Its Thermoelectric Properties

ACS Macro Lett. 2022 Jan 18;11(1):110-115. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00696. Epub 2021 Dec 28.

Abstract

Here we report the synthesis of a new solubilizing group-free, solution-processable p-type ladder conjugated polymer, 6H-pyrrolo[3,2-b:4,5-b']bis[1,4]benzothiazine ladder (PBBTL) polymer by using a polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and phenylphosphonic acid (PhPO3H2) 1:1 binary acid solvent system together with careful control of reaction kinetics. With a good intrinsic viscosity of 3.69 dL/g in methanesulfonic acid (MSA), good quality PBBTL films can be obtained via spin-coating. Intrinsic thin film properties and thermoelectric performance of PBBTL were evaluated, making it the second solubilizing group-free, solution-processable ladder-type conjugated polymer after BBL to be used for thin-film polymer electronics. While our preliminary thermoelectric performance of the FeCl3-doped PBBTL films is modest, we believe that many opportunities lie ahead for PBBTL and hope that its successful synthesis using the new PPA:PhPO3H2 binary acid solvent system will inspire synthetic organic chemists to relook into solubilizing group-free, solution-processable ladder-type conjugated polymer systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Polymers*
  • Solvents

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Solvents