Tie Chains and Charge Carrier Transport in Semicrystalline Polymer Semiconductors

It has been hypothesized that the existence of tie chains, i.e., polymer molecules bridging from one crystal domain through the interstitial amorphous region into another crystalline region, is critical for good charge carrier tranport in semicrystalline polymer semiconductors. We examine the validity of this requirement through two experimental polymer physics-based methods and demonstrate that tie molecules are likely unnecessary for good charge carrier transport. The impact of these conclusions on materials design will be further examined.