Discovery of structure–property interrelations in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) is limited by the small number of high-performing semiconducting polymer families that are electrochemically active in aqueous media. Currently, state-of-the-art polymers often come with processability drawbacks; aqueous-processable polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) require insulating cross-linkers to protect against dissolution in aqueous electrolyte, while glycolated polymers frequently exhibit marginal solubility in both organic and aqueous solvents. Herein, we show that the carboxylic acid-functionalized conjugated polymer poly [3-(4-carboxypropyl)thiophene] (P3CPT) can be processed from a water-soluble precursor, yet requires no additives to yield solvent-resistant OECTs which exhibit electroactivity in aqueous and organic electrolytes. Devices fabricated with P3CPT exhibit unipolar p-channel operation in accumulation mode, with maximum transconductance of 26 ± 2 mS on interdigitated electrodes and competitive volumetric capacitance (C*) of 150 ± 18 F-cm^–3, which rank amongst the highest for conjugated polymers with ionic side chain moieties. This work paves the way for future use of carboxylic acid functionalization to modify existing p- and n-channel backbones to yield highly competitive and processable OECT active materials.

中文翻译：

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羧酸功能化可制得耐溶剂的有机电化学晶体管

在有机电化学晶体管（OECT）中发现结构与特性的相互关系受到少数在水性介质中具有电化学活性的高性能半导体聚合物家族的限制。当前，最先进的聚合物通常具有可加工性的缺点。水可加工的聚合物，例如聚（3,4-乙撑二氧噻吩）：聚（苯乙烯磺酸盐）（PEDOT：PSS）需要绝缘交联剂以防止在电解质中溶解，而乙醇化的聚合物通常在有机和水溶液中都显示出一定的溶解度溶剂。在这里，我们表明可以从水溶性前体中加工羧酸官能化的共轭聚合物聚[3-（4-羧丙基）噻吩]（P3CPT），但不需要添加剂即可产生在水性和有机电解质中表现出电活性的耐溶剂OECT。用P3CPT制成的器件在累积模式下表现出单极p沟道操作，在叉指电极上的最大跨导为26±2 mS，并且具有竞争性的体积电容（C *）为150±18 F-cm ^–3，在具有离子侧链部分的共轭聚合物中名列前茅。这项工作为将来使用羧酸官能化修饰现有的p和n通道主链铺平了道路，从而生产出具有竞争力的可加工OECT活性材料。