Mechanically Adaptive Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conductors Based on a Polar Polythiophene Reinforced with Cellulose Nanofibrils
Journal article, 2023
Conjugated polymers with oligoether side chains are promising mixed ionic-electronic conductors, but they tend to feature a low glass transition temperature and hence a low elastic modulus, which prevents their use if mechanical robust materials are required. Carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are found to be a suitable reinforcing agent for a soft polythiophene with tetraethylene glycol side chains. Dry nanocomposites feature a Young’s modulus of more than 400 MPa, which reversibly decreases to 10 MPa or less upon passive swelling through water uptake. The presence of CNF results in a slight decrease in electronic mobility but enhances the ionic mobility and volumetric capacitance, with the latter increasing from 164 to 197 F cm-3 upon the addition of 20 vol % CNF. Overall, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) feature a higher switching speed and a transconductance that is independent of the CNF content up to at least 20 vol % CNF. Hence, CNF-reinforced conjugated polymers with oligoether side chains facilitate the design of mechanically adaptive mixed ionic-electronic conductors for wearable electronics and bioelectronics.
cellulose nanofibrils (CNF)
organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors
chemical doping
organic electrochemical transistor (OECT)
conjugated polymer
Author
Mariza Mone
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)
Youngseok Kim
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Sozan Darabi
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Sepideh Zokaei
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Lovisa Karlsson
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Mariavittoria Craighero
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
S. Fabiano
Linköping University
Renee Kroon
Linköping University
Christian Müller
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
1944-8244 (ISSN) 1944-8252 (eISSN)
Vol. 15 23 28300-28309Hybrid and Organic Thermoelectric Systems (HORATES)
European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/955837), 2021-03-01 -- 2025-02-28.
Subject Categories
Polymer Technologies
DOI
10.1021/acsami.3c03962