Synthetic Nuances to Maximize n-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistor and Thermoelectric Performance in Fused Lactam Polymers

A series of fully fused n-type mixed conduction lactam polymers p(g(7)NC(n)N), systematically increasing the alkyl side chain content, are synthesized via an inexpensive, nontoxic, precious-metal-free aldol polycondensation. Employing these polymers as channel materials in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) affords state-of-the-art n-type performance with p(g(7)NC(10)N) recording an OECT electron mobility of 1.20 x 10(-2) cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and a mu C* figure of merit of 1.83 F cm(-1) V-1 s(-1). In parallel to high OECT performance, upon solution doping with (4-(1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)phenyl)dimethylamine (N-DMBI), the highest thermoelectric performance is observed for p(g(7)NC(4)N), with a maximum electrical conductivity of 7.67 S cm(-1) and a power factor of 10.4 mu Wm(-1) K-2. These results are among the highest reported for n-type polymers. Importantly, while this series of fused polylactam organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) highlights that synthetic molecular design strategies to bolster OECT performance can be translated to also achieve high organic thermoelectric (OTE) performance, a nuanced synthetic approach must be used to optimize performance. Herein, we outline the performance metrics and provide new insights into the molecular design guidelines for the next generation of high-performance n-type materials for mixed conduction applications, presenting for the first time the results of a single polymer series within both OECT and OTE applications.

Automated summary

A series of fully fused lactam polymers with increased alkyl side chain content were synthesized via an inexpensive and non-toxic method. These polymers showed state-of-the-art n-type performance in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and high thermoelectric performance when solution-doped.