Issue 6, 2021

Ionic liquid decoration for the hole transport improvement of PEDOT

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) play an important role in conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) based electronics and thermoelectrics through regulating morphology and electronic properties. Herein, the hole transport and interface electronic coupling properties of three kinds of IL ([BMIM]:[BF4], [BuPhIM]:[BF4], and [BnPhIM]:[BF4]) mediated PEDOT systems have been researched via multiscale molecular mechanics simulations and quantum mechanics calculations, where the cations of the ILs feature gradually extended π-conjugation. It is indicated that [BnPhIM]:[BF4] induces PEDOT to show more ordered π–π stacking than its counterparts, where the chains are oriented with face-to-face alignment. This is attributed to the larger evenness of the net charge distribution at the [BnPhIM]:[BF4]-PEDOT interface. Consequently, the average mobility in [BnPhIM]:[BF4]-PEDOT is 4.01 cm2 V−1 s−1 and the instantaneous maximum reaches 17 cm2 V−1 s−1, far surpassing its counterparts. Although the predicted PEDOT single crystal presents a well-ordered lamellar structure, the one-dimensional orientation causes hole tunneling along the nanowire-like direction, leading to its mobility lagging behind the [BnPhIM]:[BF4] decorated system by one order of magnitude. On the other hand, the interface electronic coupling and doping efficiency in [BnPhIM]:[BF4]-PEDOT is strengthened, confirming that improving the π-conjugation of the cation of the IL can enhance the mobility of PEDOT and interface electronic coupling synergistically. To improve the mobility further, a novel series of cations containing [BnPhIM-oOMe]+, [BnPhIM-mOMe]+, and [BnPhIM-pOMe]+ has been designed based on the outstanding properties of [BnPhIM]+. Combining the novel designed cations with [BF4] and [B(CN)4], it is observed that [BnPhIM-pOMe]:[B(CN)4] causes PEDOT to assemble with well-ordered π–π stacking. Assessments rationalize that it could serve as a potential candidate for application in PEDOT-based electronics, since it shows similar interface electronic coupling and has a 35–43% improvement in PEDOT mobility compared to the excellent reference [BnPhIM]:[BF4].

Graphical abstract: Ionic liquid decoration for the hole transport improvement of PEDOT

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Jan 2021
Accepted
04 Feb 2021
First published
04 Feb 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 2009-2020

Ionic liquid decoration for the hole transport improvement of PEDOT

W. Ding, X. Peng, Z. Sun, K. Bi, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, L. Ji and H. He, Mater. Adv., 2021, 2, 2009 DOI: 10.1039/D1MA00040C

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