Plasticizer Enhanced Chain Orientation and Dynamics for Printed Stretchable Conjugated Polymer Films

Fei-Yan Zhang; Zhao-Min Gao; Yu Chen; Jia-Yi Hua; Yu-Lin Han; Ning-Xin Wang; Ming-Hui Wang; Bi-Ying Wang; Guang-Tao Zhao; Kui Zhao; Zi-Cheng Ding; Yan-Chun Han

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3526-0

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Plasticizer Enhanced Chain Orientation and Dynamics for Printed Stretchable Conjugated Polymer Films

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-03-26

- Plasticizer Enhanced Chain Orientation and Dynamics for Printed Stretchable Conjugated Polymer Films
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 4, Pages: 959-969(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Advanced Energy Devices, Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Energy Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
  b.State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
  c.Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Author bio：
  
  zcding@snnu.edu.cn (Z.C.D.)
  ychan@ciac.ac.cn (Y.C.H.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3526-0
  CLC：
- Received：27 October 2025，
  
  Revised：2025-12-02，
  
  Accepted：03 December 2025，
  
  Online First：06 February 2026，
  
  Published：05 April 2026
- Accepted：
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Zhang, F. Y.; Gao, Z. M.; Chen, Y.; Hua, J. Y.; Han, Y. L.; Wang, N. X.; Wang, M. H.; Wang, B. Y.; Zhao, G. T.; Zhao, K.; Ding, Z. C.; Han, Y. C. Plasticizer enhanced chain orientation and dynamics for printed stretchable conjugated polymer films. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 959–969

Fei-Yan Zhang, Zhao-Min Gao, Yu Chen, et al. Plasticizer Enhanced Chain Orientation and Dynamics for Printed Stretchable Conjugated Polymer Films[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 959-969.
Zhang, F. Y.; Gao, Z. M.; Chen, Y.; Hua, J. Y.; Han, Y. L.; Wang, N. X.; Wang, M. H.; Wang, B. Y.; Zhao, G. T.; Zhao, K.; Ding, Z. C.; Han, Y. C. Plasticizer enhanced chain orientation and dynamics for printed stretchable conjugated polymer films. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 959–969 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3526-0.

Fei-Yan Zhang, Zhao-Min Gao, Yu Chen, et al. Plasticizer Enhanced Chain Orientation and Dynamics for Printed Stretchable Conjugated Polymer Films[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(4): 959-969. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3526-0.

摘要

This study introduces a plasticizer-assisted bar coating strategy for the scalable fabrication of high-performance stretchable conjugated polymer film. With reduced crystallinity

enhanced edge-on orientation and promoted chain alignment

the plasticizer-processed film shows significantly improved stretchability and charge mobilities under varying strains compared to the neat film.

Abstract

The scalable fabrication of stretchable conjugated polymer films

via

solution printing is essential for their practical application in large-area wearable electronics. However

the printed conj

ugated polymer films typically exhibit high crystallinity

limiting their mechanical deformability. Herein

we propose a plasticizer-assisted printing strategy to simultaneously enhance the stretchability and electrical performance of films based on the conjugated polymer poly(3-(5-(5-methylselenophen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-6-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)-2

5-bis(4-octyltetradecyl)-2

5-dihydropyrrolo[3

4-c

]

pyrrole-1

4-dione) (P(TDPP-Se)). The incorporation of a plasticizer trioctyl trimellitate (TOTM) promotes P(TDPP-Se) aggregation in initial solution

facilitates chain alignment under flow field

and shorten solidification process

thereby restricting randomly polymer crystallization. Consequently

a low-crystallinity film with favorable edge-on orientation

strong chain alignment and improved chain dynamics is realized

which effectively alleviates crystallites fragmentation and crack propagation under large strain. The TOTM-plasticized film exhibits approximately 2-fold improvements in fracture strain and charge mobility

along with superior mobility retention under 100% strain in comparison to the neat film. This study provides a feasible approach for microstructure control in printed stretchable conjugated polymer film.

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Keywords

references

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