The vast amount of biological mysteries and biomedical challenges faced by humans provide a prominent drive for seamlessly merging electronics with biological living systems (e.g. human bodies) to achieve long-term stable functions. Towards this trend, one of the key requirements for electronics is to possess biomimetic form-factors in various aspects for achieving long-term biocompatibility. To enable such paradigm-shifting requirements, polymer-based electronics are uniquely promising for combining advanced electronic functionalities with biomimetic properties. In this talk, I will introduce our new molecular design and chemical synthesis concepts for semiconducting and light-emitting polymers, which enabled the incorporation of various biomimetic properties, such as stretchability. First, I will introduce our creation of a new synthesis method based on the use of click chemistry as a post-polymerization step for the versatile functionalization of conjugated polymers. Then, I will discuss our new polymer design concepts in incorporating stretchable, tissue-adhesive, and biocompatible properties onto semiconducting polymers with redox-active properties, which can be used for biosensing and neuromorphic computing. Next, I will show our design of stretchable light-emitting polymers with high quantum efficiency, which is enabled by the use of thermally activated delayed fluorescence. Collectively, our research is opening up a new generation of electronics that fundamentally changes the way that humans interact with electronics.

Biomimetic designs for semiconducting and light-emitting polymers

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ACS Spring 2023

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