Thermally Induced Formation of HF4TCNQ-in F4TCNQ-Doped Regioregular P3HT

Kristen E. Watts, Bharati Neelamraju, Maximilian Moser, Iain McCulloch, Erin L. Ratcliff, Jeanne E. Pemberton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prototypical system for understanding doping in solution-processed organic electronics has been poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) p-doped with 2,3,5,6-Tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ). Multiple charge-Transfer states, defined by the fraction of electron transfer to F4TCNQ, are known to coexist and are dependent on polymer molecular weight, crystallinity, and processing. Less well-understood is the loss of conductivity after thermal annealing of these materials. Specifically, in thermoelectrics, F4TCNQ-doped regioregular (rr) P3HT exhibits significant conductivity losses at temperatures lower than other thiophene-based polymers. Through detailed spectroscopic investigation of progressively heated P3HT films coprocessed with F4TCNQ, we demonstrate that this diminished conductivity is due to formation of the nonchromophoric, weak dopant HF4TCNQ-. This species is likely formed through hydrogen abstraction from the α aliphatic carbon of the hexyl chain at the 3-position of thiophene rings of rr-P3HT. This reaction is eliminated for polymers with ethylene glycol-containing side chains, which retain conductivity at higher operating temperatures. In total, these results provide a critical materials design guideline for organic electronics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6586-6592
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Volume11
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 20 2020
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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