Inkjet Printing of Zinc(II) Bis‐2,2′:6′,2″‐Terpyridine Metallopolymers: Printability and Film‐Forming Studies by a Combinatorial Thin‐Film Library Approach

For the first time, thin-film libraries of zinc(II) bis-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine metallopolymers are prepared by inkjet printing to study structure-property relationships and their possible usage for organic photovoltaic (OPV) or polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) applications. By using a combinatorial approach, various important parameters, including solvent system, dot spacing, and substrate temperature, as well as UV-vis absorption and emission properties, are screened in a materials efficient and reproducible manner. Homogeneous films with a thickness of 150 -200 nm were obtained when printed at 40 -50 °C and from a solvent mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide and acetophenone in a ratio of 90/10. In applications such as OPV and PLEDs the control over film thickness and homogeneity are central to obtain good device properties.