Abstract: Synthesis of lyotropic semiconducting polymers having novel side chains enabling control over crystalline fraction, crystalline orientation, and the unit cell (specifically the ?-stacking distance). Moving the branch point in the side chain further from the conjugated backbone not only retains the lyotropic liquid crystalline behavior as observed by UV-vis and POM, but also achieves reduced ?-stacking distance. This results in higher charge carrier mobility, reaching (in one or more examples) a mobility of at least 0.41 cm2V?1s?1 when the polymers were non-aligned.

Abstract: Design of side chains yielding highly amphiphilic conjugated polymers is proven to be an effective and general method to access lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases, allowing greater control over crystalline morphology and improving transistor performance. The general strategy enables variations in structure and interactions that impact alignment and use of liquid crystalline alignment methods. Specifically, solvent-polymer interactions are harnessed to facilitate the formation of high quality polymer crystals in solution. Crystallinity developed in solution is then transferred to the solid state, and thin films of donor-acceptor copolymers cast from lyotropic solutions exhibit improved crystalline order in both the alkyl and ?-stacking directions. Due to this improved crystallinity, transistors with active layers cast from lyotropic solutions exhibit a significant improvement in carrier mobility compared to those cast from isotropic solution.

Abstract: Design of side chains yielding highly amphiphilic conjugated polymers is proven to be an effective and general method to access lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases, allowing greater control over crystalline morphology and improving transistor performance. The general strategy enables variations in structure and interactions that impact alignment and use of liquid crystalline alignment methods. Specifically, solvent-polymer interactions are harnessed to facilitate the formation of high quality polymer crystals in solution. Crystallinity developed in solution is then transferred to the solid state, and thin films of donor-acceptor copolymers cast from lyotropic solutions exhibit improved crystalline order in both the alkyl and ?-stacking directions. Due to this improved crystallinity, transistors with active layers cast from lyotropic solutions exhibit a significant improvement in carrier mobility compared to those cast from isotropic solution.