Versatile solution for growing thin films of conducting polymers.
The method employed for depositing nanostructures of conducting polymers dictates potential uses in a variety of applications such as organic solar cells, light-emitting diodes, electrochromics, and sensors. A simple and scalable film fabrication technique that allows reproducible control of thickness, and morphological homogeneity at the nanoscale, is an attractive option for industrial applications. Here we demonstrate that under the proper conditions of volume, doping, and polymer concentration, films consisting of monolayers of conducting polymer nanofibers such as polyaniline, polythiophene, and poly(3-hexylthiophene) can be produced in a matter of seconds. A thermodynamically driven solution-based process leads to the growth of transparent thin films of interfacially adsorbed nanofibers. High quality transparent thin films are deposited at ambient conditions on virtually any substrate. This inexpensive process uses solutions that are recyclable and affords a new technique in the field of conducting polymers for coating large substrate areas.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Julio M
JM
D'Arcy
Henry D
HD
Tran
Vincent C
VC
Tung
Alexander K
AK
Tucker-Schwartz
Rain P
RP
Wong
Yang
Y
Yang
Richard B
RB
Kaner
D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004583:Electrons; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D000814:Aniline Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C416807:polyaniline