Semiconducting compositions comprising semiconducting polymers

1. A semiconducting composition comprising a semiconducting polymer and a semiconducting non-polymeric polycyclic compound, wherein the semiconducting polymer comprises units of A and B:

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl and aryl;

wherein when any R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 group is C 1 -C 12 alkyl or C 2 -C 12 alkenyl, then each R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and a group of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z —OR 12 , wherein z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 12 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein in the units A (when present) at least one of the R 1 and R 2 groups is substituted by one or more cyano groups and in the units B (when present) at least one of the R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 groups is substituted by one or more cyano groups;

x represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

y represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

p represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

q represents 0, 1 or 2;

r represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

wherein each R 3 , R 4 , R 9 , R 10 and R 11 (when present) is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

2. The semiconducting composition according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconducting polymer has a relative permittivity of greater than 3.4 at 1000 Hz.

3. The semiconducting composition according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconducting polymer comprises at least 20% monomeric B units.

4. The semiconducting composition according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconducting polymer comprises at least 20% monomeric A units.

5. The semiconducting composition according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconducting polymer is a copolymer comprising units of A and B and further comprising units of A′, B′, C, D and/or E:

wherein R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl and aryl;

wherein when any R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 group is C 1 -C 12 alkyl or C 2 -C 12 alkenyl, then each R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and a group of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z ′—OR 28 , wherein z′ is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 28 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

x′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

y′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

p′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

q′ represents 0, 1 or 2;

r′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

s represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

t represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

u represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

v represents 0, 1 or 2;

w represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

g represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

h represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

i represents 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

j represents 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

wherein each R′ 3 , R′ 4 , R′ 9 , R′ 10 , R′ 11 , R 15 , R 16 , R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 (when present) is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

6. The semiconducting composition according to claim 5 , wherein the semiconducting polymer is a copolymer comprising units of A and B and units of A′, units of A and B and units of B′, or units of A and B and units of C.

7. The semiconducting composition according to claim 6 , wherein the semiconducting polymer is a copolymer comprising units of A and B and units of A′,

wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, wherein the C 1 -C 12 alkyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxyl, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z —OR 12 , wherein z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 12 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R 1 and/or R 2 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein at least one of the R 1 and/or R 2 groups is substituted by one or more cyano groups;

wherein x represents 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

wherein each R 3 and R 4 (when present) is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy;

wherein R′ 1 and R′ 2 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, wherein the C 1 -C 12 alkyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and a group of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z ′—OR 28 , wherein z′ is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 28 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R′ 1 and/or R′ 2 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein x′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

and wherein each R′ 3 and R′ 4 (when present) is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

8. The semiconducting composition according to claim 7 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, wherein the C 1 -C 12 alkyl is substituted by one or more cyano groups;

wherein x represents 0 and y represents 0;

wherein R′ 1 and R′ 2 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, wherein the C 1 -C 12 alkyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and a group of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z ′—OR 28 , wherein z′ is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 28 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R′ 1 and/or R′ 2 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein x′ represents 0 and y′ represents 0.

9. A semiconducting layer comprising a semiconducting composition according to claim 1 .

10. An electronic device comprising a semiconducting composition according to claim 1 .

11. A semiconducting copolymer comprising units of A and B:

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl and aryl;

wherein when any R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 group is C 1 -C 12 alkyl or C 2 -C 12 alkenyl, then each R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and a group of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z —OR 12 , wherein z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 12 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and/or R 8 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

wherein in the units A (when present) at least one of the R 1 and R 2 groups is substituted by one or more cyano groups and in the units B (when present) at least one of the R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 groups is substituted by one or more cyano groups;

x represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

y represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

p represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

q represents 0, 1 or 2;

r represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

wherein each R 3 , R 4 , R 9 , R 10 and R 11 (when present) is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

12. The semiconducting copolymer according to claim 11 , further comprising units of A′, B′, C, D and/or E:

wherein R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 are each independently selected from C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 2 -C 12 alkenyl and aryl;

wherein when any R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 group is C 1 -C 12 alkyl or C 2 -C 12 alkenyl, then each R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, C 1 -C 10 alkoxy, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl and a group of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) z ′—OR 28 , wherein z′ is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and R 28 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

and wherein any aryl group present in R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 5 , R′ 6 , R′ 7 , R′ 8 , R 13 , R 14 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 and/or R 20 is optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, cyano, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy;

x′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

y′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

p′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

q′ represents 0, 1 or 2;

r′ represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

s represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

t represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

u represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

v represents 0, 1 or 2;

w represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

g represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

h represents 0, 1, 2 or 3;

i represents 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

j represents 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

wherein each R′ 3 , R′ 4 , R′ 9 , R′ 10 , R′ 11 , R 15 , R 16 , R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 and R 27 (when present) is independently selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 1 -C 4 alkoxy.

13. The semiconducting copolymer according to claim 12 , wherein the copolymer comprises units of A and B and units of A′, units of A and B and units of B′, or units of A and B and units of C.

14. The semiconducting copolymer according to claim 11 , having a relative permittivity of greater than 3.4 at 1000 Hz.

15. The semiconducting copolymer according to claim 11 , wherein the copolymer comprises at least 20% monomeric B units.

16. The semiconducting copolymer according to claim 15 , wherein the copolymer comprises at least 20% monomeric A units.

17. A semiconducting composition comprising a semiconducting copolymer according to claim 11 .

18. A semiconducting layer comprising a semiconducting composition according to claim 17 .

19. An electronic device comprising a semiconducting composition according to claim 17 .

20. An organic binder in a semiconducting composition, wherein the organic binder comprises a semiconducting copolymer according to claim 11 .