Effect of molecular weight on microstructure and electrical properties of conjugated polymer films

Abstract

Conjugated polymers are soft materials composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and other elements, which have great application prospects in the printed electronics industry represented by flexible displays, logic circuits and photovoltaic panels. The change of molecular weight can directly affect the solid microstructure of conjugated polymers and then affect their photoelectric properties. In this review, the influence of molecular weight on the aggregation structure and charge transport properties of amorphous, paracrystalline and semi-crystalline conjugated polymers are described successively. Then, the relationship between molecular weight, microstructure, and performance (solar cells and thin-film transistors) is summarized. Finally, the urgent scientific problems to be solved at present and the future directions are outlined. We hope that this review on the molecular weight effects of conjugated polymers, which is an important structural parameter, can help readers deepen their understanding of the influence mechanism of molecular weight and further provide guidance for the regulation of the structure and properties of organic photoelectric films.