To Pattern or Not to Pattern? Selecting Side-Chains for Mixed Conducting Polymers

Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) are a developing class of organic electronic materials distinguished by their dual modes of conduction. The side-chains of OMIEC polymers are responsible for forming a percolating electrolyte phase that mediates doping and ionic conduction. Despite this critical role, design rules for OMIEC side-chains are still nascent and their effects on OMIEC morphology and charge transport have yet to be systematically studied. In this presentation, I will describe our recent development of coarse-grained model of mixed conductors that can be used to study the relationships between OMIEC morphology, charge transport, and ion transport. Using this methodology, we have performed the first systematic study of the impact of introducing side chains of varying hydrophilicity and pattern into the OMIEC backbone. I will highlight the structure-function relationships that have been established to date through several illustrative case studies, and also discuss where opportunities exist for side-chain engineering.