A team of researchers from POSTECH and Sungkyunkwan University has developed a new technology for high-performance organic polymer semiconductors, which exhibit both stretchability and electrical functionality. To enable semiconductors to be used in diverse flexible devices like flexible displays and skin-attachable medical devices, it is necessary to use stretchable materials instead of rigid ones. However, the force exerted during the stretching of semiconductors can be up to ten times greater than that experienced during simple bending, leading to the breakdown of the semiconductor layers and a decline in their electrical performance. Researchers have been diligently exploring methods to preserve semiconductor performance even under deformation, but a definitive solution to this challenge remains elusive.
The Research
The research team successfully created a flexible molecular photocrosslinker featuring azide-reactive groups at both ends. When exposed to ultraviolet light, this photocrosslinker forms a network structure with the polymer semiconductor, acting as a brake that prevents slipping even under stretching conditions. In contrast to conventional semiconductor materials, where polymer chains become intertwined and irreversibly slip and fracture when stretched, the presence of this “brake” allows the polymer chains to retain their stretchability and performance without any slipping.
Using this approach, the research team successfully preserved up to 96 percent of the electrical performance of the polymer semiconductor, even when it was stretched to 80 percent. Moreover, the semiconductor exhibited significantly enhanced stretchability and durability compared to conventional semiconductors, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of the developed technology.
Significance of the Research
This new technology is highly valuable for industries requiring large-area production and photolithography for the development of next-generation flexible electronics. Professor Kilwon Cho, a member of the research team, explained that by incorporating azide photocrosslinkers into the films, they have successfully preserved the excellent electrical properties of polymer semiconductors for organic thin-film transistors even under significant mechanical deformation. This simple approach significantly enhances the stretchability and UV-patternability of organic semiconducting polymers.
The development of high-performance organic polymer semiconductors that exhibit both stretchability and electrical functionality is a significant advancement in the field of flexible electronics. This new technology enables the creation of more groundbreaking devices and has the potential to revolutionize the way we use electronic devices in the future.
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