Glycolated Thiophene-Tetrafluorophenylene Copolymers for Bioelectronic Applications: Synthesis by Direct Heteroarylation Polymerisation

Chempluschem. 2019 Sep;84(9):1384-1390. doi: 10.1002/cplu.201900254. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Abstract

A series of copolymers containing a glycolated 1,4-dithienyl-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylene unit copolymerized with thiophene, bithiophene, thienothiophene and 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene comonomer units were designed and synthesised by direct heteroarylation polymerisation. The optical, electrochemical, electrochromic and solid-state structural properties of the copolymers were investigated. The copolymers exhibit stable redox properties in organic solvents and promising redox properties in thin film configuration with an aqueous electrolyte. Finally, the potential of the copolymers as active materials in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) was assessed, and promising performance was shown as an accumulation-mode OECT material with a peak transconductance of 0.17 mS and a good on/off ratio of 105 for the thiophene copolymer.

Keywords: direct heteroarylation; organic electrochemical transistors; polymerisation; semiconductors; thiophenes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzene Derivatives / chemical synthesis*
  • Benzene Derivatives / chemistry
  • Fluorobenzenes / chemistry*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Thiophenes / chemistry*
  • Transistors, Electronic

Substances

  • Benzene Derivatives
  • Fluorobenzenes
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Polymers
  • Thiophenes
  • tetrafluorophenylene