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Title: Role of Complexation Strength on the Photophysical and Transport Properties of Semiconducting Charged Polymer Complexes

Journal Article · · Chemistry of Materials

The high polymer fraction in complexes of conjugated and insulating polyelectrolytes offers unique opportunities for the fabrication of conductive thick films and bulk structures. The electrostatic interactions in these systems further provide a handle for controlling their structure and properties. The impact of charge-mediated complexation strength on the photophysical and electronic transport properties in blends of conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with oppositely charged polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) was examined. Complexes were formed with varying frequency of charged repeat units, from 50 to 100%, on an anionic polythiophene-based CPE and a complimentary cationic PIL. In highly charged complexes, the intimate mixing between the CPE and the PIL reduced the structural disorder along the CPE backbone, enhancing its intrachain conjugation and interchain stacking. In weakly charged complexes (<90%), these chain planarization effects were absent and microphase separation occurred. At all charge fractions examined, the electrical conductivity of an acid-doped complex was higher than that of the unblended constituent CPE. Further, the highest electrical conductivity, near 1 S cm–1, was found for a charge fraction of 100%. These results demonstrate the potential for designing effective polymeric conductors using electrostatic complexation.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0016390; SC0012704; NSF DMR 1720256
OSTI ID:
1992776
Journal Information:
Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 35, Issue 11; ISSN 0897-4756
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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