Crystalline-Crystalline Block Copolymers of Regioregular Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and Polyethylene by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

摘要

The established route to semiconducting block copolymers typically combines a crystalline or amorphous conjugated polymer block with an amorphous, random-coil polymer that provides solubility and facilitates processing. These block copolymers permit access to a range of nanoscale morphologies (e.g., spheres, rods, co-continuous and lamellar structures) depending on the volume fractions of its components. We are interested in combining regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with polyethylene (PE) to obtain block copolymers comprising two crystalline parts. Crystalline-crystalline block copolymers are new to the field of semiconducting polymers and also represent a less explored area of polymer research. P3HT is currently the most widely used semiconducting polymer for electronic applications. Semicrystalline P3HT can self-organize into thin films, displaying high charge-carrier mobilities as result of close chain packing. Linear PE, a superb insulator, is a highly crystalline commodity polymer, conveniently processible at elevated temperatures from the melt and solution. The novel P3HT-PE block copolymers would allow exploration of new functional morphologies and expand the processing and structural toolbox for conjugated materials.