Tuning of the elastic modulus of a soft polythiophene through molecular doping
Journal article, 2022

Molecular doping of a polythiophene with oligoethylene glycol side chains is found to strongly modulate not only the electrical but also the mechanical properties of the polymer. An oxidation level of up to 18% results in an electrical conductivity of more than 52 S cm(-1) and at the same time significantly enhances the elastic modulus from 8 to more than 200 MPa and toughness from 0.5 to 5.1 MJ m(-3). These changes arise because molecular doping strongly influences the glass transition temperature T-g and the degree of pi-stacking of the polymer, as indicated by both X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations. Surprisingly, a comparison of doped materials containing mono- or dianions reveals that - for a comparable oxidation level - the presence of multivalent counterions has little effect on the stiffness. Evidently, molecular doping is a powerful tool that can be used for the design of mechanically robust conducting materials, which may find use within the field of flexible and stretchable electronics.

Author

Sepideh Zokaei

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Donghyun Kim

Linköping University

Emmy Järsvall

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Abigail M. Fenton

Pennsylvania State University

Albree R. Weisen

Pennsylvania State University

Sandra Hultmark

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Phong H. Nguyen

University of California at Santa Barbara

Amanda M. Matheson

University of California at Santa Barbara

Anja Lund

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Renee Kroon

Linköping University

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Michael L. Chabinyc

University of California at Santa Barbara

Enrique D. Gomez

Pennsylvania State University

Igor Zozoulenko

Linköping University

Christian Müller

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Materials Horizons

2051-6347 (ISSN) 2051-6355 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 1 433-443

Double Doping of Semiconducting Polymers

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2018-03824), 2018-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Materials Chemistry

DOI

10.1039/d1mh01079d

PubMed

34787612

More information

Latest update

4/5/2022 5