[Seminar] Open-Flask, Ambient Temperature Conjugated Polymer Synthesis to Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conductors

Joost Kimpel, …, and Christian Müller

 

To develop truly sustainable technology, environmentally benign synthesis is essential. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of organic mixed ion-electron conducting (OMIEC) polymers with green chemistry advantages: low synthetic complexity index, low energy requirement, low waste factor (E-factor) and high reaction mass efficiency. This was achieved via open-flask, room temperature synthesis called ambient direct arylation polymerization (ADAP). ADAP leverages a bimetallic Pd^II/Pd⁰ catalytic system—potentially a common yet underreported pathway in conjugated polymer synthesis. The approach enables the use of a green solvent, is readily scalable to over 100 grams, and is easily adapted to continuous flow production. Fabricated organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) feature beyond state-of-the-art electrical properties. This high performance is attributed to improved structural order imparted by the synthesis method. This method not only enables sustainable, large-scale production of high-performance conjugated polymers but also makes the synthesis accessible in educational settings, allowing students from diverse scientific backgrounds to engage with advanced polymer chemistry.