Small Molecule versus Polymer Semiconductors

Over the years, two prominent materials categories have emerged for organic semiconductors: small-molecules and polymers. On one hand, small-molecules have high crystallization propensity and subsequent high mobilities, but their crystalline structures simultaneously make it difficult to control their microstructures during solution-processing. On the other hand, polymers have excellent film-forming qualities because of their long chains, which simultaneously introduce intrinsic disorder, thereby lowering the mobility. The article herein discusses this intrinsic small-molecule versus polymer trade-off in the context of solution-processing. Namely, its background/history and ways to overcome it, to achieve the plastic electronic goal of solution-processed semiconductors with high electronic performance.