Electron-Deficient Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) Provides Electron Mobility over 1 cm2 V–1 s–1 under Ambient Conditions

Abstract

Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) derivatives (PPVs) are one of the most widely investigated p-type polymers in organic electronics. PPVs generally exhibit electron mobilities lower than 10^–4 cm² V^–1 s^–1, thus hindering their applications in high-performance polymer field-effect transistors and organic photovoltaics. Herein, we design and synthesize a novel electron-deficient PPV derivative, benzodifurandione-based PPV (BDPPV). This new PPV derivative displays high electron mobilities up to 1.1 cm² V^–1 s^–1 under ambient conditions (4 orders of magnitude higher than those of other PPVs), because it overcomes common defects in PPVs, such as conformational disorder, weak interchain interaction, and a high LUMO level. BDPPV represents the first polymer that can transport electrons over 1 cm² V^–1 s^–1 under ambient conditions.