Chapter 6: Structural Control in Polymeric Semiconductors: Application to the Manipulation of Light-emitting Properties

Many technological applications that affect both society and our lifestyle are increasingly exploiting functional organic materials such as conjugated polymers and semiconductors based on organic small molecules. Perhaps the most prominent example is the widespread use of organic light-emitting diodes, which have found applications in information displays, touch screens and many other products. To further advance the rapid development of these powerful and versatile technologies, it is important to gain fundamental insights about the strategies and processes that can be used to alter, control and eventually enhance the properties of this interesting class of materials. This chapter concentrates on macromolecular systems and reviews the most important categories of tools that can be used to efficiently alter their properties by: (1) manipulating their molecular architecture and electronic structure; (2) influencing their molecular ordering, packing motives and overall microstructure; and (3) utilizing the ability of some of these materials to respond to external stimuli and other physical parameters (e.g. pressure, light exposure) and/or to interact with other compounds, including systems of different functionalities. Our focus is on their emission properties and how structural controls affect these properties.