Ferroelectric electroluminescent comb copolymer for single-material self-powered displays

Abstract

Ferroelectric polymers have recently been applied in human-connected electronics as pressure (touch)-sensing materials to develop high-performance electronic skin and tactile sensing memory. Here, we report an organic synthetic route for developing a polymer possessing both ferroelectric and electroluminescent properties from which a self-powered pliable display can be readily implemented. The synthetic route involves reversible addition-fragmentation transfer-mediated graft copolymerization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) onto a polyfluorene (PFO) backbone, which results in a comb-like copolymer architecture composed of ferroelectric side chains (PVDFs) tethered to a light-emitting main chain (PFO). The resultant thin comb copolymer film, equipped with hardly integrable three natures (i.e., ferro- and piezoelectricity, luminescence, pliability), exhibits excellent light emission under alternating current and self-powering attributes upon mechanical deformation. This multifunctional polymer, where various properties including ferroelectricity and electroluminescence are imparted in molecular-level precision, envisions its use in a wide range of fields such as emerging self-powered interactive displays.