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In this communication, an atmospheric one-step plasma-based method is reported for the simultaneous synthesis and deposition of robust redox-active catechol-rich polymers. The bioinspired films are characterized by combining various analytical techniques, including IR, XPS, AFM and SIMS, and their potentials as organic cathode materials for lithium ion battery demonstrated. The influence of the coating thickness on the applicative properties of the films is also investigated.

Preparation of transparent and superhydrophobic coatings by co-deposition of an aqueous solution of an amphiphilic fluorinated block copolymer (FBC) with silica particles was developped. Spin-coating of this aqueous solution onto glass followed by an appropriate thermal treatment promotes the self-assembly of the hybrid material with the formation of superhydrophobic, robust and transparent coatings.

A new strategy for the synthesis of a well-defined redox active polymer, a polyacrylate bearing TEMPO, and its grafting onto a gold substrate is described. It consists of polymerizing an acrylate bearing an alkoxyamine by RAFT, followed by aminolysis of the trithiocarbonate chain-end into a thiol that is exploited for the polymer grafting onto the gold sensor. Thermal activation of the alkoxyamine under air provides the redox polymer with a high yield. Its electroactivity is evaluated by a electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM).

To establish a correlation between the molecular structure, physicochemical properties, thin film morphology, charge carrier mobility and photovoltaic performance of isoindigo-based electron donor type molecular semiconductors, a series of branched and linear A2–D–A1–D–A2 small molecules (A = acceptor, D = donor) are synthesized. The extended π-conjugated molecular chromophores have an electron-accepting isoindigo core, a bridging oligothiophene electron donor part and terminal octyl cyanoacrylate acceptor moieties. Their photophysical, thermal and electrochemical properties are analysed and the materials are applied in organic field-effect transistors and bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. Compared to an analogous benzothiadiazole-based small molecule, the isoindigo core deepens the HOMO energy level, enabling higher open-circuit voltages in organic solar cells. The linear isoindigo-based small molecule shows an enhanced hole mobility compared to the branched derivatives. The best power conversion efficiency of the investigated set is also obtained for the solar cell based on the linear (CA-3T-IID-3T-CA-l) donor molecule in combination with PC71BM.

We report on a simple process for the chemisorption of poly(thiophene)-based block copolymers onto ITO substrates. Two poly(thiophene) block copolymers functionalized by acrylates on the second block are prepared by the Grignard Metathesis (GRIM) process. The first block is composed of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and the second block is either a polythiophene bearing an acrylate group on each monomer unit (PAcET), or a polythiophene bearing both acrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains (P(AcET-co-PEGET)). After characterizing their macromolecular parameters and optical properties, we investigate their ability to self-assemble into micelles in DMF solutions. This solvent is required for the electrografting procedure that is used for strongly anchoring the polymer to ITO. These micelles are expected to be formed by a P3HT core and a PAcET or P(AcET-co-PEGET) shell. When PEG side chains are present in the second block, the copolymer nicely self-assembles into micelles decorated by acrylates. Cathodic polarization of ITO induces chemisorption and polymerization of acrylate groups, leading to an adherent organized film of poly(thiophene)-based micelles. The optical absorption spectra show that the electrografted polymer chains have a degree of π-electron conjugation similar to that of crystalline P3HT films. In the absence of the PEG chains, the copolymer does not organize into micelles, due to the low stabilizing ability of the second block in DMF.