Conjugated organic molecules are playing a pivotal role in the development of a new generation of electronic materials. These materials effectively produce and harvest visible light and find utility in a variety of commercially relevant optoelectronic technologies offering distinct manufacturing paradigms. There is currently considerable interest in expanding the scope of these materials to afford complementary functionality in the NIR-SWIR spectral regions and to endow functionality relevant in emergent technologies. Considerable effort has therefore been directed toward the identification of suitable materials. However, a direct way to tailor structural, electronic, and optical properties remains a critical challenge and precludes further investigation.

This invention provides for new polymer compounds and methods for the preparation of modular narrow band gap conjugated compounds and polymers that incorporate exocyclic cross-conjugated donors or substituents, as well as novel monomer components of such polymers and the resulting products which comprise materials and useful electronic devices with novel functionality.

These materials, methods, and compositions afford the capability to fine-tune structural and electronic properties to achieve modular, solution-processable donor-acceptor (DA) conjugated polymers with absorption profiles that span technologically-relevant wavelength (λ) ranges from about 0.7 μιη < λ < 8 μηι (E_g ^opt < 0.15 eV), thereby affording polymers that can interact with a substantially larger portion of the electromagnetic spectrum than previously possible. Such control suggests that a further narrowing of the band gap is possible and also results in new physical properties, such as intrinsic electrical conductivity (in the absence of “dopants”) and photoconductive devices that operate in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

STATUS: Published PCT Patent Application US2017/048213 (Publication No. WO2018-039347).

REFERENCE NUMBER: 2016-002