Conjugated D–A terpolymers for organic field-effect transistors and solar cells

Abstract

The incorporation of additional electron donors or acceptors into the backbones of conjugated polymers with alternating donors and acceptors results in various conjugated D–A terpolymers. The presence of additional electron donors or acceptors in the conjugated backbones can modulate the electronic absorptions and highest occupied molecular orbital/lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels, as well as interchain interactions and thin-film morphology. Because of these structural features, conjugated D–A terpolymers have been intensively investigated in recent years for applications in field-effect transistors and photovoltaic cells. In this review, we introduce the recent developments of conjugated D–A terpolymers with various combinations of electron donors and acceptors, and discuss the future perspectives for conjugated terpolymers. Incorporating additional electron donors or acceptors into conjugated D–A alternating polymers result in various conjugated D–A terpolymers. The presence of additional electron donors or acceptors can modulate their electronic absorptions, highest occupied molecular orbital/lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels as well as interchain interactions and thin-film morphologies. Because of these structural features, conjugated D–A terpolymers have been intensively investigated for applications in field-effect transistors and photovoltaic cells. In this review, we introduce recent developments of conjugated D–A terpolymers with various combinations of electron donors and acceptors, and discuss the future perspectives of them.