A critical review of reactive vapor deposition for conjugated polymer synthesis

Reactive vapor deposition (RVD) is a nascent, single-step processing method for forming electronic polymer films on unconventional substrates and is increasingly important for creating flexible and wearable electronics. RVD can be interpreted as a solvent-free synthetic technique, where multiple reagents converge in the vapor phase to effect a polymerization reaction. Here, we review reactive vapor deposition of conjugated polymers from a synthetic perspective, starting by establishing its roots in inorganic chemical vapor deposition, tracking its evolution over the recent decade, discussing state-of-the-art monomer and polymer scope, and concluding with an examination of shortcomings where increased attention from the synthetic community would yield impactful advances.