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DOE OSTI · 3342634

Correlative molecular-to-mesoscale evolution in conjugated polymers for intrinsically stretchable organic photovoltaics

Zhong, Wenkai [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China); Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. (China)] (ORCID:0000000183334898)·Freychet, Guillaume [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II); Univ. of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble (France)] (ORCID:000000018406798X)·Su, Gregory M. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000174958041)·Wang, Siyi [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)]·Luo, Xuanang [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)]·Liu, Xinrui [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)]·Yang, Wenyu [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)]·Yu, Lei [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)]·Wu, Xuefei [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)]·Li, Yulong [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)]·Ferron, Thomas J. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)] (ORCID:0000000222422648)·Russell, Thomas P. [Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000163845826)·Ying, Lei [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)] (ORCID:0000000311372355)·Huang, Fei [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)] (ORCID:0000000196656642)·Zhang, Yongming [Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. (China)]·Wang, Cheng [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)] (ORCID:0000000171925471)·Liu, Feng [Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. (China)] (ORCID:0000000255728512)
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Abstract

Conjugated polymer thin films offer a unique combination of tunable optoelectronic properties and mechanical flexibility, making them as promising materials for intrinsically stretchable optoelectronic devices. However, achieving both mechanical robustness and high device performance remains a key challenge. Addressing this requires a fundamental understanding of how molecular and mesoscale structures evolve under mechanical strain. Here, we employ a comprehensive suite of X-ray spectroscopy and scattering techniques to investigate the multiscale structural evolution of conjugated polymer thin films during uniaxial deformation. We uncover a two-stage morphological response: an initial stage characterized by polymer chain alignment and rapid crystallite disruption, followed by continued chain orientation accompanied by intrachain torsion at higher strains. These correlative structural adaptations govern key material properties, including stress dissipation, optical absorption, and photovoltaic performance. Our findings establish a mechanistic framework for understanding deformation in semiconducting polymers and provide design principles for developing mechanically robust, high-performance stretchable electronics.

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

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Zhong, Wenkai [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China); Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. (China)] (ORCID:0000000183334898), Freychet, Guillaume [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II); Univ. of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble (France)] (ORCID:000000018406798X), Su, Gregory M. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000174958041), Wang, Siyi [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)], Luo, Xuanang [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)], Liu, Xinrui [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)], Yang, Wenyu [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)], Yu, Lei [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)], Wu, Xuefei [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)], Li, Yulong [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)], Ferron, Thomas J. [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)] (ORCID:0000000222422648), Russell, Thomas P. [Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000163845826), Ying, Lei [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)] (ORCID:0000000311372355), Huang, Fei [South China Univ. of Technology (SCUT), Guangzhou (China)] (ORCID:0000000196656642), Zhang, Yongming [Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. (China)], Wang, Cheng [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source (ALS)] (ORCID:0000000171925471), Liu, Feng [Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. (China)] (ORCID:0000000255728512). 2026-02-20. Correlative molecular-to-mesoscale evolution in conjugated polymers for intrinsically stretchable organic photovoltaics. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-68265-4

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