title: Influence of PEG-ran-PPG Surfactant on Vapour Phase Polymerised PEDOT Thin Films.
abstract: The oxidant, Fe(III) tosylate, was used in the vapour phase polymerisation (VPP) of PEDOT. The amphiphilic co-polymer poly(ethylene glycol-ran-propylene glycol) was added and its influence examined. Both the PEDOT conductivity and optical contrast range increased with the inclusion of the co-polymer, with the maximum being recorded at 4 wt.-%. Loadings higher than this resulted in a systematic decrease in both conductivity and optical contrast. Evidence indicates that in addition to the beneficial anti-crystallisation effect to the oxidant layer, the co-polymer also reduces the effective reactivity of the oxidant, as demonstrated by slower polymerisation rates. Confirmation of the change in polymerisation rate was obtained using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The slower polymerisation rate results in higher conductivity and optical contrast; however, XPS data confirmed that the co-polymer remained within the PEDOT film post-washing and this result explains why the performance decreases at high surfactant loadings.
authors.affiliation: Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia. rick.fabretto@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Manrico
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabretto
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murphy