title: Stable polythiophene semiconductors incorporating thieno[2,3-b]thiophene.
abstract: This work describes a new design methodology that allows the preparation of air stable, semiconducting thiophene polymers with high charge carrier mobilities. The incorporation of thieno[2,3-b]thiophene into a polythiophene backbone introduces cross-conjugated double bonds that disfavor full delocalization, leading to high ionization potential in comparison to a fully conjugated polythiophene, with no reduction in charge carrier mobility. The resulting solution processable polymers exhibit charge carrier mobilities up to 0.15 cm2/V s and on/off ratios greater than 105 when measured in air. Transistors exhibit lifetimes of several months in air with no encapsulation necessary.
authors.affiliation: Merck Chemicals, Chilworth Technical Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heeney
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Kristijonas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Genevicius
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shkunov
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sparrowe
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McCulloch