Issue 42, 2009
From the journal:

Journal of Materials Chemistry

The role of water in the synthesis and performance of vapour phase polymerised PEDOT electrochromic devices

Manrico Fabretto,*a   Kamil Zuber,a   Colin Hall,a   Peter Murphyb  and  Hans J. Griessera  

* Corresponding authors

a Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
E-mail: rick.fabretto@unisa.edu.au
Fax: +61 8 8302 3683

b Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia

Abstract

Parameters affecting the quality of vapour phase polymerised (VPP) PEDOT and their influence on electrochromic device performance were investigated. Specifically, the role of water during synthesis was examined and a polymerisation mechanism proposed. Paradoxically, water vapour is essential for PEDOT polymerisation, however, too high a loading leads to crystallite formation in the oxidant layer, rendering the oxidant inactive. Changes in water vapour affect the doping level of the polymer, presumably due to poor conjugation along the polymer's backbone during synthesis. The addition of a surfactant, PPG-ran-PEG, was studied using XPS. The surfactant inhibited oxidant crystal growth and slowed the rate of PEDOT polymerisation, reducing film defects and improving PEDOT conductivity. Controlling and optimising the levels of water vapour and surfactant during synthesis resulted in reproducible, high conductivity, high optical switch, PEDOT films. Finally, complementary dual-polymer electrochromic devices utilising (pre- and post-process-enhanced) VPP PEDOT and PMAS (control) were fabricated and changes in switching transmission evaluated.

Graphical abstract: The role of water in the synthesis and performance of vapour phase polymerised PEDOT electrochromic devices

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B912324E
Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Jun 2009
Accepted
04 Aug 2009
First published
17 Sep 2009

J. Mater. Chem., 2009,19, 7871-7878

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The role of water in the synthesis and performance of vapour phase polymerised PEDOT electrochromic devices

M. Fabretto, K. Zuber, C. Hall, P. Murphy and H. J. Griesser, J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 7871 DOI: 10.1039/B912324E

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