@article{Stewart:2026:10.1002/aelm.202500731,
author = {Stewart, K and Tan, E and Kim, J and Kim, YH and Kim, JS},
doi = {10.1002/aelm.202500731},
journal = {Advanced Electronic Materials},
title = {Polarons in DPP Polymers – How Glycol Side Chains and Elongated Conjugated Backbone Influence the Formation and Transport},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202500731},
year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Understanding polaron formation in conjugated polymers is critical for advancing solid-state organic electronics. Here, we investigate diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based polymers with tailored side chains to elucidate the impact of glycolation on charge transport and polaron formation. We demonstrate that glycol side chains enhance p-type character and charge carrier density, while backbone elongation improves planarity and mobility. Electrochemical doping using a semicrystalline solid-state ionic liquid (SSIL) can increase conductivity by four orders of magnitude. In situ field-dependent Raman spectroscopy probes polaron formation, showing increased π-electron redistribution in glycolated DPP. Polaron formation of the DPPT-T conjugated backbone shows a more localised polaron with structural changes to the thiophene donor unit. Backbone elongation results in greater polaron delocalisation with lower reorganisation energy. Finally, ion-gel gated organic synaptic transistors (IGOSTs) demonstrate significant performance gains for glycolated polymers with gDPPT-T and gDPPT-TVT exhibiting strong excitatory post-synaptic currents. The more facile polaron formation pathway for gDPPT-TVT offers a significant advantage in the dynamics of ion migration and retention. This work provides molecular-level insight into the incorporation of glycol side chains to high-performance conjugated polymers for solid-state applications.
AU  - Stewart,K
AU  - Tan,E
AU  - Kim,J
AU  - Kim,YH
AU  - Kim,JS
DO  - 10.1002/aelm.202500731
PY  - 2026///
TI  - Polarons in DPP Polymers – How Glycol Side Chains and Elongated Conjugated Backbone Influence the Formation and Transport
T2  - Advanced Electronic Materials
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202500731
ER  - 

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