biostudies-literatureUnknown35(21)Gilhooly-Finn PAA series of polythiophenes with varying side chain density was synthesized, and their electrical and thermoelectric properties were investigated. Aligned and non-aligned thin films of the polymers were characterized in the neutral and chemically doped states. Optical and diffraction measurements revealed an overall lower order in the thin films with lower side chain density, also confirmed using polarized optical experiments on aligned thin films. However, upon doping the non-aligned films, a sixfold increase in electrical conductivity was observed for the polythiophene with the lowest side chain density compared to poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). We found that the improvement in conductivity was not due to a larger charge carrier density but an increase in charge carrier mobility after dopChemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society9029-9039https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10653083biostudies-literatureInterplay between Side Chain Density and Polymer Alignment: Two Competing Strategies for Enhancing the Thermoelectric Performance of P3HT Analogues.PMC10653083Lemaire AGuchait SPalma MRichard FZhang LFreeley MNielsen CBJacobs IEZaffar YNeal WBardagot OGilhooly-Finn PASirringhaus HBrinkmann MBanerji NfalseInterplay between Side Chain Density and Polymer Alignment: Two Competing Strategies for Enhancing the Thermoelectric Performance of P3HT Analogues.A series of polythiophenes with varying side chain density was synthesized, and their electrical and thermoelectric properties were investigated. Aligned and non-aligned thin films of the polymers were characterized in the neutral and chemically doped states. Optical and diffraction measurements revealed an overall lower order in the thin films with lower side chain density, also confirmed using polarized optical experiments on aligned thin films. However, upon doping the non-aligned films, a sixfold increase in electrical conductivity was observed for the polythiophene with the lowest side chain density compared to poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). We found that the improvement in conductivity was not due to a larger charge carrier density but an increase in charge carrier mobility after dop2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Nov2025-04-04T09:30:30.909Z2025-04-04T09:30:30.909ZS-EPMC106530833802754710.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01680