Toward Ecofriendly Solvent-Processable Conjugated Polymers: Recent Advances in Molecular Engineering

As essential building blocks of next-generation optoelectronic devices, polymer semiconductors hold great promise for applications in displays, biology, the Internet of Things, wearable electronics, and related emerging technologies. Nowadays, most solution-processable polymer semiconductors still rely on chlorinated solvents, which pose serious risks to both human health and the environment. With the optoelectronics industry moving toward sustainable practices, increasing attention has been devoted to the development of polymer semiconductors that are compatible with green solvents, and notable progress has already been made in this area. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the design and processing of eco-friendly green-solvent-processable polymer semiconductors. We further discuss various strategies to eliminate hazardous solvents, particularly focusing on molecular design approaches, including backbone engineering, side-chain engineering, and asymmetric synthesis. Finally, we outline the remaining challenges and future opportunities for advancing sustainably processed conjugated polymer semiconductors. By bridging materials innovation with sustainable processing, these efforts pave the way toward safer, greener, and more scalable optoelectronic technologies.