Signal New assembly method yields single-crystal-like polymer semiconductors

Summary

A paper published in Nature Materials on September 8, 2026 introduces a self-templated gradient assembly strategy that controllably modulates multi-scale structural ordering and polymer chain alignment. Using a newly designed polymer called PFIDTO-BT, researchers optimized solution-state molecular aggregates to achieve single-crystal-like long-range order, substantially improving charge carrier mobility compared to conventional disordered semiconducting polymers. The study tracked the hierarchical assembly evolution from solution to solid state to reveal the mechanism behind the improved ordering. The journal featured the work with an accompanying News & Views commentary. The advance addresses a longstanding limitation in organic semiconductor polymers — insufficient crystalline order — relevant to next-generation flexible and printed electronics.