ABSTRACT

The judicious incorporation of alternative heteroatoms into polythiophenes can impart new, and often desirable functionality. In this vein, conjugated polymers that contain furan, selenophene, and tellurophene have recently been developed to improve and control self-assembly and optoelectronic properties. Studies of polythiophene analogues are less common due to synthetic challenges; however, recent progress has been made, which will be discussed here. The focus of this chapter will be the controlled synthesis of regioregular, group 16 poly(3-alkylchalcogenophene)s, which are soluble and processable semiconducting polymers (Figure 7.1). We will also discuss key properties and some applications of these materials. The chemical structures of poly(3-alkylfuran), poly(3-alkylthiophene), poly(3-alkylselenophene), and poly(3-alkyltellurophene) (left to right). https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-u.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315159522/ab60430e-1b37-4c27-9089-7b3e8b4c996e/content/fig7_1_B.tif"/>