Session: Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science:

Electronic and ionic conductive polymers blends were studied for their potential improvement of organic electrochemical transistor device performance. The polymer blend studied was a mixture of charge conductive poly(3-hexyl-thiophene) (P3HT) and ion conductive ROMP based polymer with oligomeric ethylene oxide side chains. Potassium salts with a variety of anions (chloride, hexafluorophosphate, and bis-trifluoromethanesulfonimide (TFSI)) were examined for doping the P3HT. A variety of weight fractions were analyzed using spectroelectrochemistry, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and moving front data. AFM topography data indicates an increase in phase separation dimensions with decreased P3HT content. The time constant for polaron formation was reduced for all blends and anions though the effect was most pronounced for chloride compared to pure P3HT. The lamellar spacing is modestly increased for all blends doped with all anions compared to undoped pure P3HT with the TFSI anion expanding the most. This suggests that the ion conductive component primarily facilities ion transport without noticeably changing the structure of the doped P3HT. It is anticipated that transconductance will benefit from blending with this ion conductive polymer.

Dean Waldow

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