Macromolecular Chemistry:
Towards Organic Polymer Materials for Flexible Organic Electronics

Eric Cloutet a,b et al.*

a) Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, ENSCBP, 16, Avenue Pey Berland, Pessac Cedex, F-33607.

b CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, 16, Avenue Pey Berland, Pessac Cedex, F-33607, France

cloutet@enscbp.fr 

With my special and sincere gratitude, deep respect and warm thanks to Professor Didier Astruc who paved the way for my career, he was and he is still a very good advisor.

In recent years semiconducting organic polymers have attracted special attention in particular due to a broad range of applications in optoelectronic devices and photovoltaic solar cells. Despite their numerous advantages, as compared to inorganic materials, such as both good mechanical and electrical characteristics together with low cost and simple manufacturing processes, there are still some issues that need to be addressed. One can cite as examples the control along with the improvement of their molar masses, morphology, solubility and stability. From a macromolecular chemistry point of view and with the objective to target organic electronics, it is noteworthy that efforts have to be focused on the search for new macromolecular structures that can be obtained via "clean routes" and under the form of inks easy to handle.

Recent results that comply with some of the above statements will be presented. Particular emphasis will be placed on:

• the synthesis of block copolymers with at least one segment which is semiconducting;
• the preparation of semiconducting polymers in dispersed media.

As references, see for example below:

• M. Mumtaz et al. Macromolecular Rapid Communication27(17), 1446-1453 (2006).
• A. de Cuendias et al. J. Polym. Sci.: Part A, Polym. Chem.46, 4602-4616 (2008).
• M. Mumtaz et al. Langmuir24(20), 11911-11920 (2008).
• M. Urien et al. Macromolecules41, 7033-7040 (2008).
• M. Mumtaz et al. Macromolecules 41 (23), 8964-8970 (2008).
• M. Mumtaz et al. Langmuir25(23), 13569-13580(2009).
• R. C. Hiorns et al. Macromolecules43(14), 6033-6044 (2010).
• M. Mumtaz et al. J. Polym. Sci.: Part A, Polym. Chem.48(17), 3841-3855 (2010).
• A. de Cuendias et al. Polym. Int.59, 1452-1476 (2010).
• C. Nicolet et al. J. Phys. Chem.in press (2011).