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    Unraveling vertical inhomogeneity in vapour phase polymerized PEDOT:Tos films

    Year: 2020

    Journal: J. Mater. Chem. A, Volume 8, SEP 28, page 18726–18734

    Authors: Chen, Shangzhi; Petsagkourakis, Ioannis; Spampinato, Nicoletta; Kuang, Chaoyang; Liu, Xianjie; Brooke, Robert; Kang, Evan S. H.; Fahlman, Mats; Crispin, Xavier; Pavlopoulou, Eleni; Jonsson, Magnus P.

    Organizations: Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission; Swedish Foundation for Strategic ResearchSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research; Wenner-Gren Foundations; Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]

    The conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) forms a promising alternative to conventional inorganic conductors, where deposition of thin filmsviavapour phase polymerization (VPP) has gained particular interest owing to high electrical conductivity within the plane of the film. The conductivity perpendicular to the film is typically much lower, which may be related not only to preferential alignment of PEDOT crystallites but also to vertical stratification across the film. In this study, we reveal non-linear vertical microstructural variations across VPP PEDOT:Tos thin films, as well as significant differences in doping level between the top and bottom surfaces. The results are consistent with a VPP mechanism based on diffusion-limited transport of polymerization precursors. Conducting polymer films with vertical inhomogeneity may find applications in gradient-index optics, functionally graded thermoelectrics, and optoelectronic devices requiring gradient doping.
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