AbstractDeveloping tools to understand and control the effect of semiconducting polymer morphology on the optoelectronic performance remains an important objective. Introducing conjugation break spacers (i.e., flexible linkers) between π-conjugated segments in a semiconducting polymer is an emerging strategy toward this goal. Herein, we place this strategy in context with other extrinsic and intrinsic engineering approaches and highlight some of the recent results employing this “flexible linker” approach. We see that the inclusion of electrically insulating aliphatic spacers represents a versatile tool to gain insight into the nature of inter-molecular and intra-molecular charge carrier transport and can be broadly used to control morphology of solution-processed semiconducting polymer thin films. Moreover, this approach has afforded unique control over material processing and mechanical properties (e.g., viscosity and elasticity) without detrimental effect on the semiconducting ability. While the development of this technique remains at an early stage, its potential gives promise to reaching the goal of engineering the self-assembly of semiconducting polymers.The inclusion of electrically insulating aliphatic spacers between π-conjugated segments of semiconducting polymers represents an emerging and versatile tool to control material properties. Here we review this strategy and highlight recent reports demonstrating the control over chain self-assembly, the tunability of viscosity and elasticity, and the ability to provide insights into inter- and intra-charge transport processes—without detrimental effects on the polymer semiconducting ability. While still at an early stage, this approach gives promise towards engineering optoelectronic performance, melt-processed organic electronics, and applications toward stretchable wearable semiconducting devices.

中文翻译：

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共轭断裂间隔基和柔性连接基作为设计半导体聚合物特性的工具

摘要开发工具来理解和控制半导体聚合物形态对光电性能的影响仍然是一个重要的目标。在半导体聚合物中的 π 共轭链段之间引入共轭断裂间隔物（即柔性接头）是实现这一目标的新兴策略。在此，我们将此策略与其他外在和内在工程方法结合起来，并重点介绍了采用这种“灵活链接器”方法的一些近期成果。我们看到，包含电绝缘脂肪族间隔物代表了一种通用工具，可以深入了解分子间和分子内电荷载流子传输的性质，并可广泛用于控制溶液加工半导体聚合物薄膜的形态。而且，这种方法提供了对材料加工和机械性能（例如粘度和弹性）的独特控制，而不会对半导体能力产生不利影响。虽然这项技术的发展仍处于早期阶段，但它的潜力有望实现半导体聚合物自组装工程的目标。 在半导体聚合物的 π 共轭链段之间包含电绝缘脂肪族间隔物代表了一种新兴的多功能控制材料特性的工具。在这里，我们回顾了这一策略并重点介绍了最近的报告，这些报告展示了对链自组装的控制、粘度和弹性的可调性，以及提供对电荷间和电荷内传输过程的洞察的能力——而不会对聚合物半导体能力产生不利影响。