Conductive polymers largely derive their electronic functionality from chemical doping, processes by which redox and charge‐transfer reactions form mobile carriers. While decades of research have demonstrated fundamentally new technologies that merge the unique functionality of these materials with the chemical versatility of macromolecules, doping and the resultant material properties are not ideal for many applications. Here, it is demonstrated that open‐shell conjugated polymers comprised of alternating cyclopentadithiophene and thiadiazoloquinoxaline units can achieve high electrical conductivities in their native “undoped” form. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that this donor–acceptor architecture promotes very narrow bandgaps, strong electronic correlations, high‐spin ground states, and long‐range π‐delocalization. A comparative study of structural variants and processing methodologies demonstrates that the conductivity can be tuned up to 8.18 S cm−1. This exceeds other neutral narrow bandgap conjugated polymers, many doped polymers, radical conductors, and is comparable to commercial grades of poly(styrene‐sulfonate)‐doped poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene). X‐ray and morphological studies trace the high conductivity to rigid backbone conformations emanating from strong π‐interactions and long‐range ordered structures formed through self‐organization that lead to a network of delocalized open‐shell sites in electronic communication. The results offer a new platform for the transport of charge in molecular systems.
Photodetection spanning the short-, mid-, and long-wave infrared (SWIR-LWIR) underpins modern science and technology. Devices using state-of-the-art narrow bandgap semiconductors require complex manufacturing, high costs, and cooling requirements that remain prohibitive for many applications. We report high-performance infrared photodetection from a donor-acceptor conjugated polymer with broadband SWIR-LWIR operation. Electronic correlations within the π-conjugated backbone promote a high-spin ground state, narrow bandgap, long-wavelength absorption, and intrinsic electrical conductivity. These previously unobserved attributes enabled the fabrication of a thin-film photoconductive detector from solution, which demonstrates specific detectivities greater than 2.10 × 109 Jones. These room temperature detectivities closely approach those of cooled epitaxial devices. This work provides a fundamentally new platform for broadly applicable, low-cost, ambient temperature infrared optoelectronics.
The development of open‐shell organic molecules that magnetically order at room temperature,which can be practically applied, remains a grand challenge in chemistry, physics, and materials science. Despite the exploration of vast chemical space, design paradigms for organic paramagnetic centers generally result in unpaired electron spins that are unstable or isotropic. Here, a high‐spin conjugated polymer is demonstrated, which is composed of alternating cyclopentadithiophene and benzo[1,2‐c;4,5‐c′]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole heterocycles, in which macromolecular structure and topology coalesce to promote the spin center generation and intermolecular exchange coupling. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is consistent with spatially localized spins, while magnetic susceptibility measurements show clear anisotropic spin ordering and exchange interactions that persist at room temperature. The application of long‐range π‐correlations for spin center generation promotes remarkable stability. This work offers a fundamentally new approach to the implementation of this long‐sought‐after physical phenomenon within organic materials and the integration of manifold properties within emerging technologies.
Donor–acceptor
(DA) conjugated polymers (CPs) with narrow
bandgaps and open-shell electronic structures offer a fundamentally
new paradigm for integrating the spin degree of freedom within emerging
functional devices. Recent advancements have demonstrated that control
of long-range electronic correlations enables low-spin (S = 0) and high-spin (S = 1) DA CPs, in which extended
π-conjugation overcomes the intrinsic instability of these electronic
configurations in light-element materials. While design strategies
that articulate mechanisms of spin alignment, topology control, and
quantum mechanical exchange are emerging, dedicated studies of the
magnetic behavior of these materials remain rare. Here, we utilize
sensitive magnetometry techniques to analyze the magnetic properties
of open-shell DA CPs with low- and high-spin ground states. We demonstrate
improved measurement accuracy through combining vibrating sample magnetometry
and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. This
serves to overcome challenges associated with the inherently weak
magnetic moments of these materials and a measurement environment
in which the background signal is always significant and must be carefully
removed. Analyzing the results following established models for paramagnetic
materials enables precise quantification of the spin quantum number
and temperature-dependent spin alignment. These studies articulate
approaches that enable precise characterization of the bulk magnetic
features of these heterogeneous and disordered materials systems,
providing a path for rational property elucidation that will enable
the integration of these materials within emerging technologies.
In article number 1909805, Jason D. Azoulay and co‐workers demonstrate the design and development of open‐shell conjugated polymers that are electrically conductive in their native “undoped” form. A comparative study of structural variants, processing methodologies, and morphological features demonstrate that the conductivity could be tuned over many orders of magnitude to achieve a record high for an undoped material of 8.18 S cm−1.
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