Donor–Acceptor‐Conjugated Polymer for High‐Performance Organic Field‐Effect Transistors: A Progress Report

TLDR

Polymeric semiconductors enable low‑cost, lightweight, flexible electronics, and donor–acceptor polymer field‑effect transistors have achieved mobilities exceeding 10 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ through evolving designs informed by charge‑transport physics. This review surveys the present understanding of charge transport in polymeric semiconductors and highlights key features of high‑mobility D‑A polymers, emphasizing their microstructures. The authors describe emerging molecular designs that promise further improvements in charge‑carrier mobility. They also outline current issues and provide an outlook for future generations of polymeric semiconductors.

Abstract

Abstract Polymeric semiconductors have demonstrated great potential in the mass production of low‐cost, lightweight, flexible, and stretchable electronic devices, making them very attractive for commercial applications. Over the past three decades, remarkable progress has been made in donor–acceptor (D–A) polymer‐based field‐effect transistors, with their charge‐carrier mobility exceeding 10 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Numerous molecular designs of D–A polymers have emerged and evolved along with progress in understanding the charge transport physics behind their high mobility. In this review, the current understanding of charge transport in polymeric semiconductors is covered along with significant features observed in high‐mobility D–A polymers, with a particular focus on polymeric microstructures. Subsequently, emerging molecular designs with further prospective improvements in charge‐carrier mobility are described. Moreover, the current issues and outlook for future generations of polymeric semiconductors are discussed.