Conjugated
polymers (CPs) are attractive candidates for the fabrication
of next-generation soft and wearable electronics. Further ameliorating
the electrical and mechanical properties of CPs is urgently required
to meet the demand for the practical application. However, a dilemma
lies in that the strategies aiming at achieving deformability typically
result in the deterioration of charge transport and vice versa. In
the present work, a protocol is proposed for fabricating stretchable
semiconducting films by blending a model CP, poly(3-dodecylthiophene)
(P3DDT), with a flexible copolymer poly(n-butyl acrylate)-co-poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid), in
which the pendant sulfonic acid groups act as dopants. The strong
interaction between P3DDT and the dopant has been confirmed, leading
to enhanced conductive property, uniform distribution of P3DDT nanofibrils
in the matrix, and improved interface between P3DDT and the matrix.
As a result, the composite films with both improved electrical and
mechanical properties are obtained, even though the amount of P3DDT
in composite films is only 10 wt %. This work may provide a strategy
for the design of cost-effective stretchable semiconducting devices.