A water-processable n-type polymeric ink with conductivities exceeding 1,000 S cm−1
<h2>Summary</h2> High-performance n-type conducting polymers remain scarce, with most requiring toxic and/or hazardous solvents for processing. Here, we report a water-processable poly(benzodifurandione) (PBFDO) ink that achieves conductivities up to 1,400 S cm<sup>−1</sup>, the highest reported for n-type conjugated polymers from green solvents. The use of long-tailed amphiphilic zwitterions to stabilize the PBFDO nanoparticles creates a hydrophobic interfacial barrier that also suppresses oxidative side reactions (de-doping) with oxygen and water, resulting in aqueous dispersions that are stable for over 160 days. This molecular-level control preserves structural order in cast films, enabling sustainable and scalable fabrication of thin films with a remarkable power factor of 184 μW m<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−2</sup>—among the largest for water-processed n-type polymers—highlighting their potential for high-performance thermoelectrics. By combining exceptional electronic performance, long-term stability, and sustainable processing, this work paves the way for environment-friendly, scalable manufacturing of next-generation organic electronic and energy-harvesting devices.
Authors
- Liu Xianjie
- Junda Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6192-4715)
- Junpeng Ji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8060-7667)
- C.-L. Yang
- Min Gyu Kang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4512-9198)
- Han-Yan Wu
- Simone Fabiano
- Dace Gao
- Ze-Fan Yao
- Miao Xiong
- Qifan Li
- Tiefeng Liu
- Mats Fahlman
- Qingqing Wang
- Han Young Woo
- Sang Young Jeong
Institutions
- Linköping University (SE)
- Korea University (KR)
- Peking University (CN)
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center (SE)
- Vrinnevisjukhuset i Norrköping (SE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Matter
- Published
- 2026-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102599
- Primary Topic
- Conducting polymers and applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00