Molecular Doping of a Water‐Soluble Polythiophene Derivative. Issue 12 (27th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zessin, Johanna; Bittrich, Eva; Zessin, Jakob; Malanin, Mikhail; Posseckardt, Juliane; Voit, Brigitte; Eichhorn, Klaus‐Jochen; Kiriy, Anton; Mertig, Michael
• Other Names: Wagner Patrick guestEditor.; Doll Theodor guestEditor.; Wagner Torsten guestEditor.; Mertig Michael guestEditor.; Schöning Michael J. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 216:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-02-27
• Subjects: conductivity -- molecular doping -- morphology -- polythiophene -- spectroscopy; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solids -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201800772
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-6300

Abstract

Abstract : Intrinsic conducting polymers are promising candidates for bioelectronic devices due to their structural kinship to biological matter combined with electronic functionality. For sophisticated nano‐scaled bioelectronic devices, P3RT‐type polythiophene derivatives bearing water‐soluble, biocompatible sidechains are particularly appealing due to their well‐defined molecular structure and controllable end‐group composition. However, their employment in bioelectronic devices is not as straightforward as expected. Challenging is their poor performance due to, e.g., the low charge carrier concentration in the native state. Partial oxidation of these polymers by strong electron acceptors, so‐called p‐type doping, can increase the charge carrier concentration, and thus, the conductivity. The solution‐based molecular p‐type doping of such a water‐soluble polythiophene derivative by the dopant tetrafluoro‐tetracyano‐quinodimethane is reported. The mechanism of the doping process is thoroughly investigated by a combination of spectroscopic techniques covering the UV‐VIS and IR regions. Furthermore, the morphological and electronic properties of polymer thin films are examined as a dependence on the dopant concentration. Abstract : The impact of molecular doping by the p‐dopant F4TCNQ on thin films of a water‐soluble polythiophene derivative is investigated regarding its potential application as conducting material in nanoscale bioelectronic devices. The influence on the optical and morphological properties is evaluated. As a result of the doping, an enhancement of the conductivity from 10 −4 up to 0.01 S cm −1 is demonstrated.