Issue 24, 2023

Impact of oxidation-induced ordering on the electrical and mechanical properties of a polythiophene co-processed with bistriflimidic acid

Abstract

The interplay between the nanostructure of a doped polythiophene with oligoether side chains and its electrical as well as mechanical properties is investigated. The degree of order of the polymer is found to strongly vary when co-processed with bistriflimidic acid (H-TFSI). The neat polythiophene as well as strongly oxidized material are largely disordered while intermediate concentrations of H-TFSI give rise to a high degree of π-stacking. The structural disorder of strongly oxidized material correlates with a decrease in the kinetic fragility with H-TFSI concentration, suggesting that positive interactions between TFSI anions and the polymer reduce the ability to crystallize. The electrical conductivity as well as the Young's modulus first increase upon the addition of 4–10 mol% of H-TFSI, while the loss of π-stacking observed for strongly oxidized material more significantly affects the latter. As a result, material comprising 25 mol% H-TFSI displays an electrical conductivity of 58 S cm−1 but features a relatively low Young's modulus of only 80 MPa. Decoupling of the electrical and mechanical properties of doped conjugated polymers may allow the design of soft conductors that are in high demand for wearable electronics and bioelectronics.

Graphical abstract: Impact of oxidation-induced ordering on the electrical and mechanical properties of a polythiophene co-processed with bistriflimidic acid

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Sep 2022
Accepted
14 Nov 2022
First published
23 Nov 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023,11, 8091-8099

Impact of oxidation-induced ordering on the electrical and mechanical properties of a polythiophene co-processed with bistriflimidic acid

S. Hultmark, M. Craighero, S. Zokaei, D. Kim, E. Järsvall, F. Farooqi, S. Marina, R. Kroon, J. Martin, I. Zozoulenko and C. Müller, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 8091 DOI: 10.1039/D2TC03927C

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