Nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) is a reversible-deactivation radical polymerization technique (RDRP) that facilitates the synthesis of well-defined and complex macromolecular architectures, with low polymer dispersity and high chain end homogeneity. NMP is an industrially robust technique that is inherently simple, often only requiring a single unimolecular initiator with a monomer to perform the polymerization, followed by a simple precipitation/filtration to workup the final product. Unlike other RDRP techniques, NMP provides clean well-defined polymers, without the need for transition metal complexes, which is favorable for some sensitive biological and electronic applications. This Review focuses on the use of these engineered polymers, synthesized by NMP, in emerging applications, such as next-generation lithium batteries, organic electronics, drug delivery systems, biosourced materials, photolithography, and photopolymerization. Emphasis is placed on publications since 2015.

Phthalocyanine-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) have been demonstrated as sensors for a range of analytes, including cannabinoids, in both liquid and gas phases. Detection of the primary cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), is necessary for quality control and regulation, however, current techniques are often not readily available for consumers, industry, and law-enforcement. The OTFT characteristics, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, and grazing incident wide angle x-ray scattering (GIWAXS) spectra of two copper and three zinc phthalocyanines, with varying degrees of peripheral fluorination, were screened to determine sensitivity to THC vapor. Unsubstituted ZnPc was found to be the most sensitive material and, by tuning thin-film morphology, crystal polymorphs, and thickness through altered physical vapor deposition conditions, we increased the sensitivity to THC by 100x. Here we demonstrate that deposition conditions, and the resulting physical film characteristics, play a significant role in device sensitization.

Cannabis producers, retailers, and law enforcement increasingly need low-cost point-of-source cannabinoid sensors. Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) based sensors are a promising technology that can provide rapid speciation and detection of...

To achieve commercialization of organic electronics, the field must see an improvement in both performance and material stability while maintaining a low cost of fabrication. To achieve this, low-cost additives...

A strong, static magnetic field is demonstrated to make favorable, directionally controlled, changes to phthalocyanine thin-film microstructures, improving charge transport, and increasing organic thin-film transistor performance by two-fold. Compared to thermal or solvent vapor annealing, which can be difficult to control or destructive to electronic device substrates, magnetic field annealing is presented as a non-destructive alternative post-deposition process. More details can be found in article number 2206792 by Adam J. Shuhendler, Benoît H. Lessard, and co-workers.