Vapor phase polymerization of EDOT from submicrometer scale oxidant patterned by dip-pen nanolithography

Some of the most exciting recent advances in conducting polymer synthesis have centered around the method of vapor phase polymerization (VPP) of thin films. However, it is not known whether the VPP process can proceed using significantly reduced volumes of oxidant and therefore be implemented as part of nanolithography approach. Here, we present a strategy for submicrometer scale patterning of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) via in situ VPP. Attolitre (10(-18) L) volumes of oxidant "ink" are controllably deposited using dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). DPN patterning of the oxidant ink is facilitated by the incorporation of an amphiphilic block copolymer thickener, an additive that also assists with stabilization of the oxidant. When exposed to EDOT monomer in a VPP chamber, each deposited feature localizes the synthesis of conducting PEDOT structures of several micrometers down to 250 nm in width. PEDOT patterns are characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), conductive AFM, two probe electrical measurement, and micro-Raman spectroscopy, evidencing in situ vapor phase synthesis of conducting polymer at a scale (picogram) which is much smaller than that previously reported. Although the process of VPP on this scale was achieved, we highlight some of the challenges that need to be overcome to make this approach feasible in an applied setting.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of UV-resistant poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) thin films

The layer-by-layer assembly technique was used to create electrically conductive films with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) and branched polyethylenimine (BPEI). Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) and carbon black were used to prevent UV-degradation of these PEDOT-PSS thin film assemblies. Film growth and conductivity were studied, while varying composition and examining the effect of UV absorbing particles on the electrical conductivity. All films showed similar initial sheet resistances, but after exposure to 365 nm UV light for 9 days (correlating to approximately 4 years of sunlight), the films containing TiO(2) were up to 250 times more conductive. Additionally, the TiO(2) containing films were 27% more optically transparent than films made with PEDOT in the absence of TiO(2). The addition of colloidal titania allows the useful life of the PEDOT films to be extended without the detrimental effects of decreased transparency. Doping the PEDOT with dimethylsulfoxide produced eight bilayer films that were almost 6 times more conductive. However, the degradation rate for the doped PEDOT films without TiO(2) was 10 times greater than the doped films with TiO(2).     

修饰Langmuir-Blodget膜法制备聚(3,4-亚乙基二氧噻吩)薄膜结构和导电性能的研究

采用修饰Langmuir-Blodget(LB)膜法以二十烷酸(AA)LB膜为模板,通过3,4-亚乙基二氧噻吩(EDOT)单体在LB膜亲水基团间聚合,制备了二十烷酸/聚(3,4-亚乙基二氧噻吩)(AA/PEDOT)复合LB膜.UV-Vis、FTIR和XPS分析表明EDOT在多层膜中有效聚合,生成了PEDOT导电聚合物;X射线衍射(XRD)和二次离子质谱(SIMS)分析表明薄膜具有较好的层状有序结构,进一步研究发现EDOT在AA多层膜中的聚合破坏了原有LB膜的有序性,这可能与聚合过程对层状结构产生的破坏作用有关;采用四探针仪及半导体测试仪研究了薄膜导电性能,发现AA/PEDOT多层膜的电导率随处理时间的变化产生突变,这与多层膜中导电通道的"逾渗"有关,在有效导电网络连通后电导率发生了突变.测试结果还表明AA层和PEDOT层之间具有较为明显的界面,PEDOT显示出较好的定域性,薄膜具有很好的层状有序结构.     

Uniform thin films of poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) prepared by in-situ deposition

In-situ deposited thin films of the conducting polymer poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) have been prepared on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and resistivity measurements.     

Virus-Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Biocomposite Films

Virus-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (virus-PEDOT) biocomposite films are prepared by electropolymerizing 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in aqueous electrolytes containing 12 mM LiClO(4) and the bacteriophage M13. The concentration of virus in these solutions, [virus](soln), is varied from 3 to 15 nM. A quartz crystal microbalance is used to directly measure the total mass of the biocomposite film during its electrodeposition. In combination with a measurement of the electrodeposition charge, the mass of the virus incorporated into the film is calculated. These data show that the concentration of the M13 within the electropolymerized film, [virus](film), increases linearly with [virus](soln). The incorporation of virus particles into the PEDOT film from solution is efficient, resulting in a concentration ratio of [virus](film):[virus](soln) ≈ 450. Virus incorporation into the PEDOT causes roughening of the film topography that is observed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrical conductivity of the virus-PEDOT film, measured perpendicular to the plane of the film using conductive tip AFM, decreases linearly with virus loading, from 270 μS/cm for pure PEDOT films to 50 μS/cm for films containing 100 μM virus. The presence on the virus surface of displayed affinity peptides did not significantly influence the efficiency of incorporation into virus-PEDOT biocomposite films.     

Micropatterning of functional conductive polymers with multiple surface chemistries in register

A versatile procedure is presented for fast and efficient micropatterning of multiple types of covalently bound surface chemistry in perfect register on and between conductive polymer microcircuits. The micropatterning principle is applied to several types of native and functionalized PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) thin films. The method is based on contacting PEDOT-type thin films with a micropatterned agarose stamp containing an oxidant (aqueous hypochlorite) and applying a nonionic detergent. Where contacted, PEDOT not only loses its conductance but is entirely removed, thereby locally revealing the underlying substrate. Surface analysis showed that the substrate surface chemistry was fully exposed and not affected by the treatment. Click chemistry could thus be applied to selectively modify re-exposed alkyne and azide functional groups of functionalized polystyrene substrates. The versatility of the method is illustrated by micropatterning cell-binding RGD-functionalized PEDOT on low cell-binding PMOXA (poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)) to produce cell-capturing microelectrodes on a cell nonadhesive background in a few simple steps. The method should be applicable to a wide range of native and chemically functionalized conjugated polymer systems.     

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophen)/Poly(4-styrenesul-fonate): Thin Films and Microfibers

This Feature Article describes our recent researches on processing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene /poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) colloidal dispersion into thin films which exhibit high conductivity and high transparency, and into microfibers which exhibit high conductivity and high mechanical strength. The state-of-the-art thin films and microfibers are expected to utilize to sophisticated touch screens and wearable electronic devices as organic transparent electrodes and woven electric circuits, respectively.     

Electrochemistry of conductive polymers 38. Electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) studied by current sensing atomic force microscopy

Electrical and morphological properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films electrodeposited on gold-on-silicon electrodes by galvanostatic, potentiostatic, and potentiodynamic methods have been determined using current sensing atomic force microscopic experiments. Surface morphologies and vertical conductivities of PEDOT films were affected by the experimental parameters including the preparation method, the current density, the potential, and the potentiodynamic cyclic number. Band gaps obtained from current-voltage curves of dedoped PEDOT were in excellent agreement with those obtained from absorption spectra. When the film thickness was increased on the gold-on-silicon electrode, the topographic images were not very well defined due to the high roughness but conductivities increased significantly in all the galvanostatically, potetiostatically, and potentiodynamically grown PEDOT films.     

Metal-like Charge Transport in PEDOT(OH) Films by Post-processing Side Chain Removal from a Soluble Precursor Polymer

Herein, a route to produce highly electrically conductive doped hydroxymethyl functionalized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films, termed PEDOT(OH) with metal-like charge transport properties using a fully solution processable precursor polymer is reported. This is achieved via an ester-functionalized PEDOT derivative [PEDOT(EHE)] that is soluble in a range of solvents with excellent film-forming ability. PEDOT(EHE) demonstrates moderate electrical conductivities of 20–60 S cm⁻¹ and hopping-like (i.e., thermally activated) transport when doped with ferric tosylate (FeTos₃). Upon basic hydrolysis of PEDOT(EHE) films, the electrically insulative side chains are cleaved and washed from the polymer film, leaving a densified film of PEDOT(OH). These films, when optimally doped, reach electrical conductivities of ≈1200 S cm⁻¹ and demonstrate metal-like (i.e., thermally deactivated and band-like) transport properties and high stability at comparable doping levels.     

Thermoelectric properties of nanocomposite thin films prepared with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) and graphene

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), either single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), can improve the thermoelectric properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT?:?PSS), but it requires addition of 30-40 wt% CNTs. We report that the figure of merit (ZT) value of PEDOT?:?PSS thin film for thermoelectric property is increased about 10 times by incorporating 2 wt% of graphene. PEDOT?:?PSS thin films containing 1, 2, 3 wt% graphene are prepared by solution spin coating method. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy analyses identified the strong π-π interactions which facilitated the dispersion between graphene and PEDOT?:?PSS. The uniformly distributed graphene increased the interfacial area by 2-10 times as compared with CNT based on the same weight. The power factor and ZT value of PEDOT?:?PSS thin film containing 2 wt% graphene was 11.09 μW mK(-2) and 2.1 × 10(-2), respectively. This enhancement arises from the facilitated carrier transfer between PEDOT?:?PSS and graphene as well as the high electron mobility of graphene (200,000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)). Furthermore the porous structure of the thin film decreases the thermal conductivity resulting in a high ZT value, which is higher by 20% than that for a PEDOT?:?PSS thin film containing 35 wt% SWNTs.     

Solid-state synthesis of a conducting polythiophene via an unprecedented heterocyclic coupling reaction

Prolonged storage ( approximately 2 years) or gentle heating (50-80 degrees C) of crystalline 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DBEDOT) affords a highly conducting, bromine-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), as confirmed by solid-state NMR, FTIR, CV, and vis-NIR spectroscopies. The novel solid-state polymerization (SSP) does not occur for 2,5-dichloro-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DCEDOT), and requires a much higher temperature (>130 degrees C) for 2,5-diiodo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DIEDOT). X-ray structural analysis of the above dihalothiophenes reveals short Hal.Hal distances between adjacent molecules in DBEDOT and DIEDOT, but not in DCEDOT. The polymerization may also occur in the melt but is significantly slower and leads to poorly conductive material. Detailed studies of the reaction were performed using ESR, DSC, microscopy, and gravimetric analyses. SSP starts on crystal defect sites; it is exothermic by 14 kcal/mol and requires activation energy of approximately 26 kcal/mol (for DBEDOT). The temperature dependence of the conductivity of SSP-PEDOT (sigma(rt) = 20-80 S/cm) reveals a slight thermal activation. It can be further increased by a factor of 2 by doping with iodine. Using this approach, thin films of PEDOT with conductivity as high as 20 S/cm were fabricated on insulating flexible plastic surfaces.     

A high-resolution near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure investigation of the molecular orientation in the pentacene/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) pentacene/system

We present x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and highly resolved near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy measurements taken on pentacene thin films of different thicknesses deposited on a spin coated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) substrate. Thin films of pentacene were prepared by using organic molecular beam deposition in situ using strictly controlled evaporation conditions. Our investigations show that pentacene thin films on PEDOT:PSS are characterized by upright standing molecules. Due to the strong dichroic behavior, the calculated values of the molecular orientation give a clear indication not only of the real molecular arrangement in the films but also of a high orientational order. This high degree of molecular orientation order is a characteristic already of the first layer. The films show the tendency to grow on the PEDOT:PSS substrate following an island-fashion mode, with a relatively narrow intermixing zone at the interface between the pentacene and the polymer blend. The peculiarity of the growth of pentacene on PEDOT:PSS is due to the fact that the substrate does not offer any template for the nucleated films and thus exerts a lateral order toward the crystal structure arrangement. Under these conditions, the upright orientation of the molecules in the films minimizes the energy required for the system stability.     

Miscellaneous PEDOT:PTS (polythiophenesulfonyl chloride) based conductive binder for silicon anodes in lithium ion batteries

Lithium ion batteries which are an energy storage system have increasing attention owing to suitability and advantages for many applications. Although it has ideal specifications, the capacity properties still have to be developed. In this study, the electrical conductivity of the anode was increased by using a conductive polymer binder and the active material content of the anode was also enhanced without adding carbon additives. Silicon based anodes were manufactured by using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polythiophenesulfonyl chloride (PEDOT:PTS) conductive polymer binders. Si/PEDOT:PTS anode showed about 2000 mAh/g specific capacities after 60 cycles with decreasing impedance.     

Water uptake in the hydrophilic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) solid-contact of all-solid-state polymeric ion-selective electrodes

Solid-contact (SC) ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) utilizing thin films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and plasticized poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) have been produced using a spin casting procedure. This study was carried out with a view of characterizing this popular and well known SC ISE using a series of complementary surface analysis techniques. This work revealed that PEDOT:PSS prevents the separation of an undesirable water layer at the buried interface of this SC ISE due to the high miscibility of water in the hydrophilic PEDOT:PSS layer. The lack of a clearly defined and molecularly sharp buried interface prohibits the formation of a distinct water layer presumably by eliminating sites that promote the accumulation of water. This outcome is important to the chemical sensor community since it provides further insights into the compatibility of sensor components in SC ISEs.     

Effective charge propagation and storage in hybrid films of tungsten oxide and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

Hybrid (composite) electroactive films consisting of such an organic conducting polymer as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT, and such a polynuclear inorganic compound as amorphous tungsten oxide, WO₃/H _x WO₃ were fabricated on carbon electrodes through electrodeposition by voltammetric potential in acid solution containing EDOT monomer and sodium tungstate. Electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged tungstic units (existing within WO₃) and the oxidized positively charged conductive polymer (oxidized PEDOT) sites create a robust hybrid structure which cannot be considered as a simple mixture of the organic and inorganic components. It is apparent from scanning electron microscopy that hybrid structures are granular but fairly dense. Because PEDOT and mixed-valence tungsten oxides are electronically conducting, the resulting hybrid films are capable of fast propagation. The reversible and fast redox reactions of tungsten oxide component lie in the potential range where PEDOT matrix is conductive. Furthermore, the hybrid films exhibit good mediating capabilities towards electron transfers between model redox couples such as cationic iron(III,II) and anionic hexacyanoferrate(III,II). Since the films accumulate effectively charge and show high current densities at electrochemical interfaces, they could be of importance to electrocatalysis and to construction of redox capacitors.     

水下超疏油聚(3,4-乙烯基二氧)噻吩薄膜的制备简

以离子液体溴化(1-己基-3-甲基咪唑盐)作为电解质和掺杂剂采用电化学一步法制备了微纳米复合结构的聚(3,4-乙烯基二氧噻吩)薄膜,薄膜由槽内排布着纳米珠链的棒状结构组成. 研究表明,通过控制电流密度的大小,可以调节棒状结构和珠状结构的平均直径. 离子液体中的咪唑阳离子和对阴离子均掺杂到聚合物中,该薄膜具有可逆的电化学活性及水下超疏油特性.     

水下超疏油聚(3,4-乙烯基二氧)噻吩薄膜的制备

以离子液体溴化(1-己基-3-甲基咪唑盐)作为电解质和掺杂剂采用电化学一步法制备了微纳米复合结构的聚(3,4-乙烯基二氧噻吩)薄膜, 薄膜由槽内排布着纳米珠链的棒状结构组成. 研究表明, 通过控制电流密度的大小, 可以调节棒状结构和珠状结构的平均直径. 离子液体中的咪唑阳离子和对阴离子均掺杂到聚合物中, 该薄膜具有可逆的电化学活性及水下超疏油特性.     

Effects of additives and post‐treatment on the thermoelectric performance of vapor‐phase polymerized PEDOT films

Vapor‐phase polymerization (VPP) is an important method for the fabrication of high‐quality conducting polymers, especially poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). In this work, the effects of additives and post‐treatment solvents on the thermoelectric (TE) performance of VPP‐PEDOT films were systematically investigated. The use of 1‐butyl‐3‐menthylinidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF₄], an ionic liquid) was shown to significantly enhance the electrical conductivity of VPP‐PEDOT films compared with other additives. The VPP‐PEDOT film post‐treated with mixed ethylene glycol (EG)/[BMIm][BF₄] solvent displayed the high power factor of 45.3 μW m^?1 K^?2 which is 122% higher than that prepared without any additive or post‐treatment solvent, along with enhanced electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. This work highlighted the superior effect of the [BMIm][BF₄] additive and the EG/[BMIm][BF₄] solvent post‐treatment on the TE performance of the VPP‐PEDOT film. These results should help with developing the VPP method to fabricate high‐performance PEDOT films. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55 , 1738–1744     

二甲基亚砜改性聚(3,4-乙撑二氧噻吩):聚苯乙烯磺酸薄膜的研究及应用进展

二甲基亚砜(DMSO)被称为“万能溶剂”,除了在化学、医学、化妆品等领域的常规应用,在有机电子领域也有展现出特色应用。 聚(3,4-乙撑二氧噻吩):聚苯乙烯磺酸(PEDOT:PSS)是一类卓越的水分散性导电聚合物材料,具有优异的可加工性、混合性、生物兼容性、成膜性以及可商业规模生产等优势,被广泛应用于抗静电涂层、透明电极、有机太阳能电池、超级电容、生物传感等新材料和绿色能源领域。 DMSO对调控PEDOT:PSS薄膜的形貌、导电、热电、功函,界面接触、力学、自修复等性能具有重要作用。 基于我们团队及国内外学者在本领域的研究成果,本文系统综述了DMSO对PEDOT及其衍生物:PSS(PEDOTs:PSS)作用的效果及其机制,探讨了应用中面临的问题与挑战。     

Time-scale- and temperature-dependent mechanical properties of viscoelastic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films

The viscoelastic properties of thin films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been studied using the method of acoustic impedance. The films were deposited on the Au electrodes of 10 MHz AT-cut quartz thickness shear mode resonators and exposed to acetonitrile solutions of 0.1 M TEABF4 and LiClO4. For p-doped films, admittance spectra as a function of potential (E), temperature (T), and time scale (frequency, via harmonics, in the range 10-110 MHz) were acquired. Shear modulus components extracted from these responses surprisingly showed virtually no variation with E (and thus film solvation) or with T, but the variation with frequency was dramatic. This qualitative behavior and the numerical values of the shear moduli contrast strongly with recently reported data for the related poly(3-hexylthiophene) system, which shares the same conducting spine but differs substantially in the substitution pattern. Accordingly, the models and interpretation for PEDOT are quite different: film dynamics are determined by free-volume effects, and side-chain motion is not a significant factor. Qualitatively similar potential and time-scale effects were seen for n-doped PEDOT, but the scope of the measurements was limited by film stability.