Energetic Materials for Biological and Electronic Applications

Abstract

Conjugated polymeric materials represent a promising next step for electronic applications. As organic semiconductors (OSCs), they offer key advantages over their inorganic counterparts, including solution-processability, mechanical flexibility, and compatibility with low-cost fabrication techniques. To enable efficient charge transport, OSCs typically require doping to generate charge carriers. However, this creates instabilities and changes within the material. In this dissertation, I investigate the doping mechanism of an n-type dopant and in parallel, I explore strategies to improve charge transport in amorphous p-type conjugated polymers, where disordered morphology poses a significant challenge. Additionally, I examine a biological application that employs abiotic triphosphate compounds to modulate muscle function, expanding the potential of synthetic systems in bioelectronic contexts. Collectively, this work advances the understanding of doping mechanisms in n-type polymers and proposes new methods to enhance electrical performance in disordered systems, paving the way toward cost-effective synthesis and broader application of conjugated polymers.Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)2026-09-0