Preparation and characterisation of conductive Langmuir–Blodgett films of a tetrabutylammonium–Ni(dmit)2 complex

Abstract

The behaviour of tetrabutylammonium–Ni(dmit)₂ at the air–water interface has been investigated and Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films have been built-up on a variety of substrates from the floating layer containing different concentrations of tricosanoic acid. The morphology, spectroscopic, electrical, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of the LB films are reported. In-plane dc room-temperature conductivity values of σ_rt= 10^–2 S cm^–1 and thermal activation energies ΔE= 0.08–0.1 eV over the temperature range 300–100 K, have been achieved by post-deposition electrochemical doping with four different anions, and by chemical doping with iodine vapour. The films doped with iodine and perchlorate retained this conductivity value upon storage for ca. 1 month. Electrochemical doping during deposition of the LB films resulted in conductivity values of σ_rt= 10^–3 S cm^–1.