Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage

Conjugated ladder polymers (cLPs) are polymers consisting of continuous fused aromatic rings with π conjugation along their backbone. This unique structure imparts cLPs with exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical stability, as well as notable optical and electrical properties due to th...

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Main Authors: Kok Chan Chong, Teck Lip Dexter Tam, Ran Tao, Kang Le Osmund Chin, Ming Hui Chua, Jianwei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Energy Material Advances
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/energymatadv.0134
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author Kok Chan Chong
Teck Lip Dexter Tam
Ran Tao
Kang Le Osmund Chin
Ming Hui Chua
Jianwei Xu
author_facet Kok Chan Chong
Teck Lip Dexter Tam
Ran Tao
Kang Le Osmund Chin
Ming Hui Chua
Jianwei Xu
author_sort Kok Chan Chong
collection DOAJ
description Conjugated ladder polymers (cLPs) are polymers consisting of continuous fused aromatic rings with π conjugation along their backbone. This unique structure imparts cLPs with exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical stability, as well as notable optical and electrical properties due to their rigid, planar structures. Since the seminal work on the synthesis of high-molecular-weight, solution-processable poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthrolinedione) in 1969 by F. E. Arnold and R. L. Van Deusen, many cLPs have been developed for a variety of applications. This review focuses on both the synthesis and applications of cLPs for energy harvesting and storage devices, organic optoelectronics, and organic transistors. The former includes several facile synthetic methods, postsynthetic treatments, various characterization, and postprocessing of cLPs, focusing on film fabrication. The latter focuses on numerous applications, including organic thermoelectrics for energy harvesting, battery electrodes and organic supercapacitors for energy storage, and organic optoelectronics, including organic light-emitting diodes, organic photovoltaics, organic electrochromics, and organic photodetectors. It also covers organic transistors like organic field-effect transistors and organic electrochemical transistors. The review concludes with potential challenges and outlooks on cLPs in many organic electronics areas, offering a comprehensive perspective on their future development and potential.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2692-7640
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-51b65c16b3a348f5b5f70f14e7c11e8c2025-01-10T08:00:41ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Energy Material Advances2692-76402025-01-01610.34133/energymatadv.0134Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and StorageKok Chan Chong0Teck Lip Dexter Tam1Ran Tao2Kang Le Osmund Chin3Ming Hui Chua4Jianwei Xu5Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Jurong Island 627833, Singapore.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Jurong Island 627833, Singapore.Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Jurong Island 627833, Singapore.Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Jurong Island 627833, Singapore.Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Jurong Island 627833, Singapore.Conjugated ladder polymers (cLPs) are polymers consisting of continuous fused aromatic rings with π conjugation along their backbone. This unique structure imparts cLPs with exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical stability, as well as notable optical and electrical properties due to their rigid, planar structures. Since the seminal work on the synthesis of high-molecular-weight, solution-processable poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthrolinedione) in 1969 by F. E. Arnold and R. L. Van Deusen, many cLPs have been developed for a variety of applications. This review focuses on both the synthesis and applications of cLPs for energy harvesting and storage devices, organic optoelectronics, and organic transistors. The former includes several facile synthetic methods, postsynthetic treatments, various characterization, and postprocessing of cLPs, focusing on film fabrication. The latter focuses on numerous applications, including organic thermoelectrics for energy harvesting, battery electrodes and organic supercapacitors for energy storage, and organic optoelectronics, including organic light-emitting diodes, organic photovoltaics, organic electrochromics, and organic photodetectors. It also covers organic transistors like organic field-effect transistors and organic electrochemical transistors. The review concludes with potential challenges and outlooks on cLPs in many organic electronics areas, offering a comprehensive perspective on their future development and potential.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/energymatadv.0134
spellingShingle Kok Chan Chong
Teck Lip Dexter Tam
Ran Tao
Kang Le Osmund Chin
Ming Hui Chua
Jianwei Xu
Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage
Energy Material Advances
title Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage
title_full Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage
title_fullStr Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage
title_full_unstemmed Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage
title_short Conjugated Ladder Polymers: Unique Organic π-Conjugated Materials for Optoelectronics, Transistors, and Energy Harvesting and Storage
title_sort conjugated ladder polymers unique organic π conjugated materials for optoelectronics transistors and energy harvesting and storage
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/energymatadv.0134
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