The key mechanism of conductivity in PEDOT:PSS thin films exposed by anomalous conduction behaviour upon solvent-doping and sulfuric acid post-treatment

Abstract

The role of the π–π stacking distance and abundance in the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS thin films and a new morphology are unraveled.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance and Lifetime in Acid-Doped PEDOT:PSS Films Via Work Function Modification

“…[42][43][44] On the other hand, DMSO dopes and stabilizes charges in PEDOT owing to its strong dipole moment, which screens charges from (PEG). [45][46][47][48] This suggests that PEIE coating might be less effective with such solvents.…”

Mechanisms for doped PEDOT:PSS electrical conductivity improvement

“…57,58 Fortunately, it is possible to boost the conductivity by using secondary dopants, in particular by introducing organic solvents such as ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), [59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66] or by introducing poly(alcohols) such as sorbitol and glycerol, [67][68][69][70][71] or by adding surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and poly(oxyethylene) phenyl ether, 72,73 or by treating acids such as phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), and sulfonic acid. [74][75][76] Based on the literature, the transparent and highly conductive PEDOT:PSS films have been studied extensively, in particular for replacing indium tin oxide (ITO) in photovoltaics (OPV), [77][78][79][80] solar cells, [81][82][83] OLED devices, 84 and touch screens. 85 Furthermore, PEDOT:PSS has currently been documented in bioelectronic applications, such as stretchable and wearable electronics.…”

Study on nonlinear conduction of PEDOT:PSS conducting polymer

“…The five peaks at 2 values of approximately at 6.2°, 18.7°, 25.3°, 26.4°, and 28.37° in PEDOT:PSS film correspond to the lattice d spacing calculated in terms of Bragg's law is shown in Fig ( 1). The diffraction at 6.2° was attributed to the lamella stacking between two distinct alternate ordering PEDOT:PSS and 18.7° was attributed to inter-chain ring stacking between PEDOT:PSS [15,16]. This lamella stacking distance agrees well with the widths of the PE-DOT and PSS chain, which are 14.2 A°, estimated according to chemical structural simulation [17].On the other hand, the peaks at 25.3°, 26.4°, and 28.37° can be attributed to the distances between π-π stacking (010) of the PE-DOT chains [18,19].…”